Arsenal Linked With Big Money Move To Sign Striker Jose Mourinho Likens To Didier Drogba

Arsenal’s move to bring in a proven finisher has apparently led them to Naples, with Gunners boss Mikel Arteta reportedly seriously considering a big-money move for Napoli’s prolific Nigerian international Victor Osimhen. It’s a move that former Chelsea, Man United and Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho believes could be a mistake.

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Jose Mourinho, who has taken over at Turkish giants Fenerbahce, spent three years at AS Roma and got to experience the damage Osimhen can do when taking on Serie A defenders, and though the Portuguese manager is full of praise for the prolific marksman, he has also identified one part of his game that could make a move to England a problematic one.

“He is of the same level as Drogba, but Didier didn’t dive. If Victor changes, then OK, I’d buy him if I was at a club with a lot of money.”

“However, if he does go to England one day, he needs to change, because in Italy they put up with this sort of behaviour, whereas in the Premier League, they’d come down hard on him,” Mourinho added.

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25-year-old Osimhen has been a huge hit since moving from Ligue 1 side Lille to Napoli in July 2020. He has racked up 76 goals in 133 games for Gli Azzurri and played a key role in helping the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona stadium side win their first domestic title in over thirty years.

However, last season, Napoli fell away and finished in mid-table, which could further fuel a possible departure, not least because the club does not have UEFA Champions League football to bank on.

Over the past two seasons, Arteta has had to rely on goals coming from his midfielders and wingers, with the likes of Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard weighing in with big numbers. Kai Havertz also aided the goals tally last season, being used in a variety of roles effectively.

Arsenal could very much do with an injection of an out-and-out striker, especially as Gabriel Jesus was somewhat off the boil when used in the last campaign. Other sides are also taking interest in Osimhen, including Chelsea and PSG.