Neymar to Arsenal transfer 'not impossible' as Mikel Arteta given huge Victor Osimhen boost

Mikel Arteta will no doubt want to strengthen his Arsenal squad this summer. The Gunners continue to be linked with some big names but, for now, it's unclear whether or not Edu will break the bank again.

Last year, Arsenal forked out over £200m on Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber alone. After heavily investing in two midfielders and a defender, Arteta may look to sign a new striker – especially with Eddie Nketiah facing an uncertain future.

Victor Osimhen continues to be linked with a move to the Premier League, but his eye-watering price tag could prove to be a stumbling block for lots of clubs. So, with that being said, football.london has rounded up the latest Gunners news and transfer gossip on Friday, June 28.

Arsenal given Osimhen boost

Arsenal may have just been given a major boost to their chances of signing Victor Osimhen. Speaking to the press for the first time since being named as Napoli’s new head coach, Antonio Conte confirmed the striker will be allowed to find a new club this summer.

The former Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur boss said: "As far as Osimhen is concerned, just as I knew very well about the situation of [Khvicha] Kvara, [Giovanni] Di Lorenzo, [Andre-Frank] Anguissa, [Stanislav] Lobotka, on whom I had an absolute veto, I know very well about the Osimhen situation.

READ MORE: Arsenal, Chelsea and Spurs wage bill compared to Premier League rivals

READ MORE: Athletic Bilbao reveal Nico Williams transfer stance as secret clause 'confirmed'

"I know that there are agreements with the club, it’s a totally different situation, which I’ll witness. Then if you ask me about the player, he’s a top player, but I can’t get into any discussions about Osimhen because these are previous agreements."

football.london says: "While Napoli will probably demand an absolutely obscene fee for Victor Osimhen's signature, I think Arsenal just need to take a gamble. The striker market is looking fairly bleak at the moment, so I'd urge the Gunners to just go and spend big."

Neymar to Arsenal 'not impossible'

Gilberto Silva believes Neymar could be lured back to Europe this summer – and he's named Arsenal a potential suitor. Speaking to Bet365, the former Gunners midfielder said: "I’d love to see Neymar in the Premier League with Arsenal.

"It would bring a lot of joy to fans and make the competition even more special. When you look at the Premier League, we want to see the best players in the world, and to have him around would be great. Let’s see. It’s not impossible that he could join Arsenal, why not."

Neymar ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus in his left knee while playing for Brazil in a 2026 World Cup qualifier in October 2023. Recovery from an ACL rupture or tear can be eight to 10 months, meaning the 32-year-old's expected to be back in action around August.

football.london says: "I'd be interested to see how Neymar fares in the Premier League – especially at Arsenal. I can't imagine he'd play too many games over the course of a season or two, but he'd bring world-class quality to the side. His experience and leadership wouldn't go amiss too – his mentality could be what the Gunners need to dethrone Manchester City."

Arteta targets Barcelona teenager

Arsenal appear to have expanded their search for a new defender. According to HITC, the Gunners have contacted Barcelona to explore the possibility of signing Mikayil Faye after a move to Porto collapsed.

The 19-year-older featured 35 times for Barcelona's B side last season, primarily operating as a left-sided centre-back. In an interview with Spanish publication Diario AS, Dani Olmo’s brother described him as a 'super calm' player.

Carlos, who played with Faye in Croatia, said: "He’s a super calm, kind kid. For us it was life insurance those months he played with us at the back. He has very controlled timing. There have been many times that I have thought: ‘he’s not coming’ and the guy comes. I mean, he’s fast but he controls the timing very well."

football.london says: "If Faye has to play understudy to Gabriel Magalhães AND Jakub Kiwior then I can't see him joining Arsenal. With that being said though, Arsenal could very easily find him a good loan – like they did with William Saliba – and remain patient."