Napoli and Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen would prefer a move to join Chelsea if he leaves the Italian club, Soccernet.ng reports.
However, Chelsea’s soon-to-be-announced new manager, Enzo Maresca, is not interested in signing Osimhen, casting doubt on the player’s move to Stamford Bridge, according to Gazzetta dello Sport.
Interest in Osimhen is not limited to Chelsea, though. Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), and several clubs in Saudi Arabia are also monitoring the situation.
PSG see Osimhen as a potential replacement for Kylian Mbappé and could make an offer if the right terms are met.
Napoli are looking to sell Osimhen for €120 million, which is his release clause. The dethroned Italian champions aim to use the funds from his transfer to strengthen their squad and reduce their wage bill, as Osimhen is set to earn around €10 million per season from next year.
The Serie A giants are open to offers from any club willing to meet their financial demands, but Osimhen’s preference is the Premier League, particularly Chelsea, due to his admiration for former Chelsea star Didier Drogba. While PSG might be an option if they make a concrete offer, it is not Osimhen’s preferred destination at the moment.
Napoli’s primary goals include securing the full release clause amount, lowering their salary expenses, and acquiring a new forward.
The Partenopeans are believed to be already in the market for Osimhen’s possible replacements, which include strikers like Nigeria’s Victor Boniface, Gyokeres, Sesko, and Artem Dovbyk.
Despite the interest in Osimhen, no club has yet made a formal offer meeting Napoli’s demands, partly due to the Super Eagles striker’s recent injury issues.
While Osimhen dreams of playing in the Premier League, Chelsea seems to have pulled out of the race due to Maresca’s differing striker preferences.
Arsenal remain a potential option, while Saudi Arabian clubs are more attractive to Napoli than to Osimhen himself. The transfer market is still evolving, and all parties are eagerly waiting for the first move.
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