Victor Osimhen makes Saudi Arabia u-turn as Al-Ahli and Al-Hilal get set to take another shot at Napoli star

Saudi Arabian moneybags Al-Ahli and Al-Hilal are set to make another move for Victor Osimhen as his future at Napoli remains uncertain, Soccernet.ng reports.

With Chelsea and Arsenal out of the race to sign Osimhen, PSG have looked the most serious clubs in the pursuit of the Nigerian forward.

However, talks between Napoli and PSG have cooled in recent days as the French champions insist they are not willing to pay Osimhen’s €130 million release clause.

PSG not being able to sell one of Goncalo Ramos and Randal Kolo Muani to make room in the squad for an Osimhen arrival has also not helped matters.

While Osimhen is ready to leave Napoli this summer, the Super Eagles striker’s priority is to remain in Europe and fight for the biggest trophies on the continent. It is an open secret that the 25-year-old attacker has rejected numerous offers from clubs in Saudi Arabia.

However, with English and French clubs unwilling to meet Napoli’s demands, the only feasible destination left for Osimhen remains the Middle East.

According to Tutto Napoli, Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ahli and Al-Hilal are set to launch yet another bid to sign Osimhen.

Osimhen has now instructed his representatives to listen to the Saudi proposals with two clubs believed to have no problem making Osimhen Africa’s highest-paid footballer.

It could, however, be a ploy by Osimhen’s entourage to get PSG to increase their offer for the striker.

Still, a lot will change in the transfer space should Osimhen accept a move to Saudi Arabia, according to Francesco Marolda.

“Osimhen? I don’t know if this story will be resolved soon, Napoli certainly won’t be able to get the money for the clause because the price is set by the buyer,” Marolda said, as per Tutto Napoli.

“If the player absolutely wants to go to PSG, we’ll have to wait a little longer, unless the player accepts Saudi Arabia. The clubs are hostages of the buyer and the players.”

In the meantime, Osimhen remains with Napoli as they prepare for the 2024/25 season.

However, Sky Sports journalist Francesco Modugno is convinced that Napoli have little choice but to sell Osimhen as his continued stay could hurt the club’s budget. 

“I am confident, in the end for me Osimhen will be sold by Napoli,” Modugno said.

He added, “PSG no longer throw away money like before, on principle: they decided to act like this a few years ago, after not having won the Champions League despite the many millions spent. They want to build a team and must pay attention to the budget.”

Modugno continued, “Napoli cannot keep Osimhen: the blue club has an agreement with the player to sell him, after last year’s ‘bonus’, a sort of prize that materialized in 10 million euros with the last renewal.

“I am confident about his departure because 11 million net is a lot: Osimhen is difficult to sustain for Napoli and for all of Italian football if we consider that, alone, he takes up about 25% of Napoli’s salary bill. He has another year on his contract and keeping him would mean redoing the contract again.”