Napoli forward Victor Osimhen appears to be on the verge of leaving the Serie A champions, with a move to Saudi Arabian club Al Ahli becoming increasingly likely, Soccernet.ng reports.
According to renowned journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, the Nigerian international is now leaning towards a lucrative transfer to the Saudi Pro League.
Al Ahli, who have been active in the transfer market, recently improved their offer for the 25-year-old, reportedly pushing the deal closer to completion.
This bid comes as the club seeks to outmaneuver European giants Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain, both of whom had also expressed interest in signing Osimhen.
Napoli, under the management of Antonio Conte, are eager to finalise the sale of Osimhen, with a deal already agreed to sign Romelu Lukaku as his replacement.
The Italian club is keen to bolster its finances, allowing for additional reinforcements during the transfer window.
With Osimhen’s approval, negotiations between the two clubs are expected to progress rapidly.
Al Ahli’s offer reportedly includes a staggering €30 million (approx. 53 billion naira) annual salary over four years for the prolific striker, who has netted 76 goals in 133 appearances for Napoli.
A crucial meeting between Osimhen’s agent, Roberto Calenda, and Al Ahli’s sporting director is scheduled to take place in Rome soon.
Osimhen’s decision to consider Al Ahli’s offer comes after 2013 Africa Cup of Nations winning striker Brown Ideye urged the forward to move to Saudi Arabia.
Former West Brom star Ideye advised Osimhen to prioritise financial security over a return to European football, suggesting that a stint in Saudi Arabia could benefit the young forward in the long run.
“If I’m him, I will go to Saudi, play two years, then go back to Europe,” Ideye stated on his social media.
As of now, no formal agreement has been reached, but Osimhen’s future could be resolved within the next few hours.
