Arsenal eye Osimhen as replacement for want-away Aubemeyang as league resumes on June 17

ENGLISH Premier League side Arsenal has stepped up its quest for Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen having identified him as the ideal replacement for want-away skipper Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who expected to leave at the end of the season.

Premier League clubs have agreed to restart the season on June 17 after three months out of action, after which the nine remaining games will be played. Two fixtures remaining from the last round of matches involving Manchester City versus Arsenal and Aston Villa versus Sheffield United will take place on the 17th before the first full round of matches the following weekend.

Currently sitting in ninth place with 40 point, Arsenal will find it hard to qualify for Europe next season, which is thought to have informed Aubameyang's decision to leave the club. Aged 30, Aubameyang is eager to win some European silverware before the end of his career, so it is believed he will leave the Emirates, despite still having a year left on his contract.

Arsenal chiefs are keen to avoid a repeat of last summer when Aaron Ramsey left the Emirates as a free agent to join Juventus, so have decided to sell Aubameyang after they were unable to reach a new deal. With the proceeds from the sale of Aubameyang, Arsenal will enter the bidding for Osimhen, who is arguably the most in-demand striker in the world at the moment.

Currently playing for Lille in France, Osimhen, 21, has enjoyed an impressive season, scoring 18 goals and providing six assists in 38 appearances in all competitions. However, getting the striker will not be easy as earlier this month, Lille received stunning £75m bid from an unnamed English club for Osimhen's services.

Several English clubs are interested in securing his services, including Chelsea, Tottenham, Liverpool and Manchester United. Only last week, Osimhen apparently turned down a bid from Italian giants Lazio, with his agent saying racism played a part in the decision.