Napoli has faced a turbulent period recently, and star striker Victor Osimhen has had his share of challenges as well.
After clinching the Serie A title, Napoli endured a disappointing 2023-24 season, cycling through three managers and finishing 10th, a staggering 41 points behind the champions tỷ số trực tuyến 7m.
For Osimhen, the issues aren’t on the pitch but rather the ongoing speculation about his future.
The 25-year-old has been seeking a transfer for over a year, and his club would be happy to offload a high-earner from their roster.
Up to now, no one has been willing to meet the high release clause for a striker who became Napoli’s record signing with his £65m move from Lille in 2020.
Osimhen’s Premier League Ambitions
Osimhen is attending Napoli’s pre-season training camp, but according to Naples-based journalist Vincenzo Credendino, the Nigerian striker’s presence is merely to maintain his fitness.
“He’s not participating in the friendly matches,” Credendino, who reports for CalcioNapoli24 TV, told BBC Sport.
“At times, he skips the intra-squad matches and focuses solely on maintaining his fitness, avoiding any risk since he’s likely to leave Napoli sooner or later this summer,” said Credendino.
Osimhen’s exit appears imminent. He told CBS Sports earlier this year that he had already “made up my mind” about his future.
Napoli chairman Aurelio de Laurentiis previously indicated that the forward would move to either “Real Madrid, Paris St-Germain, or an English club.”
According to Credendino, PSG seemed like the most probable destination, but the French champions are not prepared to meet the rumored release clause of £111m.
Chelsea have expressed interest in Osimhen, but his high price tag and wage demands have been a deterrent this summer. Meanwhile, Arsenal have emerged as the latest Premier League club to be linked with the striker.
In addition, he also shared: “From the first days of moving to Napoli, I shared with my relatives and friends that I wanted to play in England, and the main goal was the tournament English Premier League
“Conte Wants Lukaku, Lukaku Wants Napoli”
If Osimhen were to leave, it could clear the path for Lukaku to transfer from Chelsea to Napoli.
Credendino reports that new Napoli manager Antonio Conte, who previously managed Lukaku at Inter Milan, is believed to be in frequent contact with the striker.
At 31, Lukaku currently earns £325,000 a week, making him the highest-paid player at Chelsea. However, he has spent the last two seasons on loan at Inter Milan and Roma.
“According to an Italian journalist, Lukaku even practiced and improved his technique on his own. In particular, this player really liked Conte’s sharing, he also applied a nutritional regimen according to Conte’s advice”
“I’d say Conte wants Lukaku, Lukaku wants Conte, and Lukaku wants to join Napoli.”
It’s no surprise that Lukaku would want to reunite with Conte, given that he had some of the most prolific seasons of his career under the Italian’s management.
Under Conte, he netted 34 goals in all competitions in their first season together, and followed up with 30 goals in the next, helping Inter secure the Serie A title.
In the three seasons since, Lukaku scored 15 goals at Chelsea, 14 during his loan spell at Inter, and 21 at Roma last season.
The surge in international interest for Osimhen began after an extraordinary season—one that Napoli fans will cherish forever.
He scored 26 goals in Serie A, leading Napoli to their first league title in 33 years and solidifying his status as a club legend.
Napoli fans began wearing replicas of the protective face mask Osimhen used while recovering from an eye-socket injury.
However, last season was more challenging for Osimhen, despite his 15 goals in 25 Serie A appearances, as Napoli finished mid-table.
The forward missed part of the season due to his participation in the Africa Cup of Nations and also endured a hamstring injury in October.
“Other teams are aware that Napoli’s salary demands pose a problem, and it’s an issue Napoli needs to address. As a result, no one is currently willing to meet the release clause,” says Credendino.
As the transfer saga continues, what are Napoli fans—disheartened by their team’s performance last season—making of the situation?
Credendino comments, “On one hand, people see Osimhen as a very good striker, but on the other, there’s concern that his situation could pose a risk to the team.”
“However, he also received some mixed opinions from football fans: Although his football playing technique is quite good, the cost of paying him takes up the majority of his budget team. If we sell him, we could invest in other strong players, so letting him go could be beneficial.’
“Others are simply delighted to watch him play and are content to enjoy his performances.”
Credendino adds: “Osimhen is among the top strikers globally, so if your team has one of the best players in the world, you’re simply pleased—regardless of whether he’s earning 10 million euros a year. It’s not something that concerns fans.”