Former AS Roma star Davide Bombardini has tipped Nigeria-eligible striker Joshua Zirkzee to replace Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen at Napoli this summer, Soccernet.ng reports.
Nigerian hitman Osimhen has been one of the best strikers in the world for the last two years. Last season, the Super Eagles star was key in Napoli’s Scudetto triumph, scoring 26 goals for the club also to become the first African to win the Capocannoniere.
This season, Osimhen has slowed down majorly because of injuries. Still, he has a decent goalscorer record at 13 goals in 24 appearances across all competitions.
The 25-year-old striker’s performances have made him a top target for some of the best clubs in Europe, like Chelsea, Arsenal, and PSG. However, Napoli have been too stubborn to let him go.
Nonetheless, there is a high possibility that Osimhen will leave Napoli this season as his contract nears expiration, and he has always shared his desire to play in the Premier League.
If Osimhen leaves, Napoli will have a big void to fill and would have to splash the cash to capture a new hitman, as Giovanni Simeone’s capability is still under scrutiny.
Meanwhile, Former Roma man Bombardini, who spent most of his career in Italy, has identified a potential replacement for Osimhen. The Italian has mentioned Bologna’s Zirkzee as a viable option for the Partenopeans.
“Zirkzee is a player worth certain amounts, now I don’t know if 40 or 50 million will be enough to sign him, but next summer, transfer market will tell us,” Bombardini said per Napoli Magazine.
“When I saw him at the start, he was only missing a goal, and in my opinion, he can become Osimhen’s replacement. He is a player with a future, an investment can still grow a lot.”
The 22-year-old has registered eleven goals in 30 appearances for Bologna this season, helping them to fourth in the Serie A. He is also the club’s highest goalscorer.
Zirkzee was born in the Netherlands to a Dutch father and a Nigerian mother, and he played for the Dutch youth teams. However, he can still represent Nigeria because he is yet to play for the senior team.
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