Indirectly pointing to the exorbitant demands of Napoli’s president, Aurelio de Laurentiis for any club who is willing to sign the Super Eagles attacker.

Speaking at a recent press conference, the former Barcelona forward dropped a hint at the challenges PSG faced in securing a top striker during the summer window.

“We wanted to hire some players, but their price was too high. It didn’t make sense. There wasn’t a real opportunity. If the market window had allowed us to take a player with 50 goals per season, we would have done it, but the reality was different.” he said.

While Enrique did not name Osimhen specifically, it is widely believed that the Nigerian forward was one of PSG’s primary targets following the exit of Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid.

Osimhen, who scored 31 goals last season, was reportedly on the radar of both the French League giants and Chelsea until the closing stages of the transfer window.

However, the clubs were unable to meet Napoli’s high valuation, as well as Osimhen’s contract believed to be set by de Laurentiis, which ultimately derailed any potential deal.

Despite the setback, PSG’s management has opted against entering the transfer market to find a replacement, with the club placing a heavy priority on Super Eagles forwards Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen.

According to L’Équipe, as reported by Tutto Atalanta, head coach Luis Enrique has decided to rely on internal solutions, particularly turning to Spanish forward Marcos Asensio to fill the void left by Ramos’ absence.

This decision reshapes PSG’s immediate tactical approach and sends ripples across the broader European transfer landscape.

Notably, this development dashes any lingering hopes that the Parisians might rekindle their interest in Nigerian forwards.

Both players, who have been linked with potential moves away from Napoli and Atalanta respectively, were on PSG’s radar earlier in the window.

However, with the Parisian club now focussing on utilising their existing squad, any possibility of securing a big-money move for either Nigerian star appears to be off the table for the time being.

Meanwhile, the fates of Osimhen and Lookman remain uncertain as the clock ticks in the transfer market.

The Nigerian forward has become a focal point in the 2024 summer transfer window, with his desire to leave the Diego Maradona Stadium ahead of the new season garnering significant attention.

While PSG had been considered the leading contender to secure the Super Eagles attacker, the French giants are now at risk of withdrawing from the race.

Reports from RMC Sport’s Fabrice Hawkins indicate that Enrique does not believe Osimhen aligns with his tactical approach, casting doubt on the move.

Luis Enrique isn’t necessarily a fan of Victor Osimhen’s profile, he’s not convinced that Osimhen is the player he needs up front to carry out his playstyle. @FabriceHawkins on @AfterRMC

pic.twitter.com/an5dEhhCEN

— PSG Report (@PSG_Report) August 8, 2024

This development has heightened speculation about Osimhen’s future and opened up opportunities for Premier League clubs and Saudi Arabian teams eager to sign him.

Chelsea, in particular, faces potential complications regarding Financial Fair Play rules if they pursue Osimhen. Instead, the club has recently secured Samu Omorodion from Atletico Madrid.

Despite this, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has reported that Chelsea remains in negotiations with Napoli over a possible deal for Osimhen.

To advance, the Stamford Bridge outfit may need to explore options such as a loan deal or other creative solutions.

PSG have been in the forefront in the race to sign Osimhen, with the French champions looking to rebuild an attack decapitated by the departure of Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid.

The Parisians reportedly tabled an offer of €200 million for the duo of Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia but Napoli batted it back deeming the Georgian playmaker unavailable.

While Napoli want to do business with any club ready to meet Osimhen’s €130 million release clause, PSG only value Osimhen at €80 million.

Napoli reportedly made a stunning counter-offer of €90 million plus Korea Republic midfielder Lee Kang-In, a proposal which PSG also condemned to the dustbin.

However, fresh reports from France suggest that there is more keeping the deal from getting done than the transfer fees.

According to L’Equipe as per Football365, PSG manager Luis Enrique is not in support of the club’s move for Osimhen.

The former Barcelona manager is contented with the duo of Portugal’s Goncalo Ramos and France’s Randal Kolo Muani as he believes Osimhen does not have the profile of a striker he wants in his team.

However, despite Enrique’s reservations, PSG’s continued push for Osimhen can be traced back to the club’s sporting director Luis Campos who has a history with Osimhen.

Campos and Osimhen worked together at LOSC Lille when the Nigerian took the Ligue 1 by storm to win the award for the African best player in the league.

While PSG and Napoli play the cat-and-mouse game around Osimhen, Arsenal have been tipped to launch a move for the reigning Africa Footballer of the Year soon.

“I went to Lagos to see the Under-17 World Championship. After seeing him in one game he had convinced me: I called my CEO every night to take him, I told him that within two years he would become one of the best in Europe, but the price was too high for a seventeen-year-old and finally went to Wolfsburg. In the last twenty meters, Osimhen is like a cat when you throw a ball at him, it’s incredible, he attacks them all,” the Portuguese said in 2019

Napoli president, Aurelio De Laurentiis, has revealed that the club will evaluate 10 candidates to succeed Luciano Spalletti at the Diego Maradona Stadium, Soccernet.ng reports.

The Italian business tycoon earlier confirmed that the Italian tactician, who guided the Gli Azzurri to their first Scudetto title in 30 years, will not lead the team in the upcoming season.

Meanwhile, De Laurentiis, ruled out the news of former Barcelona boss, Luis Enrique taking up the role, and revealed that some candidates would be evaluated to take up the role.

The reigning Serie A champions, who are in search of a new successor for Victor Osimhen’s boss have identified Luis Enrique as the top candidate. However, the Spanish tactician seems more inclined towards a move to England.

“He is a great coach, he did really well at Barcelona but I think he prefers the Premier League,” De Laurentiis stated in an interview with Rai, as reported by Gazzetta.

“We must remember that we are dealing with leagues that are more appealing than ours’, like the English one. There are better offers there. I would tell him that he’d find better food here and there is no gulf over there,” continued De Laurentiis.

It was earlier reported that former Chelsea boss, Antonio Conte could be the best candidate to pick the role, but given that Conte often employs a three-man defense in his coaching style, it appears unlikely that he will be considered for the job. The same can be said for Gian Piero Gasperini, the Atalanta boss. However, Thiago Motta (Bologna) and Vincenzo Italiano (Fiorentina) remain plausible candidates for the managerial position at the Stadio Maradona.

“I’ve evaluated about ten coaches who can use this system [4-3-3] and I’ll pick the best one to continue the winning cycle. I want to do more but I need support from all Napeolitans,” added the 74-year-old.

“Changes should not be scary as everything must be used to improve. We’ll go ahead being the only team that has been playing in Europe for 14 years and this says it all about decisions on coaches.

“I have an advantage, I can’t play football, but I know how to be an entrepreneur. I must be rational and understand what’s going on. I haven’t made many errors for now and hope to continue.”

palletti, in his final game as coach, will lead Napoli against Sampdoria at the Stadio Maradona on Sunday, where Napoli will celebrate their Scudetto victory by lifting the trophy.

Lionel Messi has reportedly backed Athletic Bilbao boss Ernesto Valverde for the vacant Barcelona managerial job as the Catalans step up search for Luis Enrique’s replacement.

The Catalan are in the hunt for a new manager after Luis Enrique confirmed that he will be standing down at the end of the season earlier this year.

Enrique called time on his three-year spell at the Nou Camp in March, after having landed two La Liga titles, two Copa del Rey and a Champions League win. Messi who is currently in discussions with the club over a new deal as he enters the final year of his contract at the Nou Camp is believed to favour Valverde over the club’s current assistant Unzue.

And Spanish outlet Don Balonare reporting that Messi has given Athletic Bilbao coach Valverde his seal of approval.

Valverde lifted the Supercopa de Espana with Bilbao in 2015 and has led the side into European competition for the past two season. The club go into this weekend’s final La Liga fixtures in sixth place.

Several of Messi’s team-mates are also said to be in favour of the move with an announcement expected to be made after the season finishes. Valverde is the favourite for the post and his deal with the Basque side comes to an end next month.

Barcelona have placed Antonio Conte on their shortlist of managers to replace Luis Enrique, according to reports.

The Sunday Express claims that Barca’s hierarchy have been impress with what the Italian has done at Stamford Bridge this season and will attempt to bring him to Camp Nou.

Luis Enrique has already announced that he is stepping down at the end of the season, while Athletic Bilbao boss, Ernesto Valverde, is the favourite to replace him.

Conte has already been targeted by Inter, with the Serie A club offering him a £10 million-a-year salary, a large transfer budget, and the promise of being able to make his own signings, such as Roma’s Radja Nainggolan.

The report claims that Chelsea are planning contract talks with Conte, but if they are unable to persuade him to stay, Roman Abramovich will consider replacing him with Leonid Slutsky.

Slutsky has been out of a managerial job since stepping down as CSKA Moscow boss in December.

The 46-year-old, who has won three Russian Premier League titles and coached the national team, has been living in London since January and is a close friend of Abramovich.

Slutsky has attended Chelsea’s training sessions and games, and was also sat just a few seats away from Conte during the Under-18s’ Youth Cup final victory over Manchester City at Stamford Bridge last week.

Barcelona boss Luis Enrique warned Neymar to keep his emotions in check when he returns from suspension in the heated atmosphere of a Catalan derby at Espanyol on Saturday.

The Brazilian has missed Barca’s previous three league games, including a thrilling 3-2 win at Real Madrid last weekend, due to suspension after being sent-off and then sarcastically applauding the officials when Barca slumped to a 2-0 defeat at Malaga on April 8.

It was Neymar’s first red card for the club, but Enrique is wary of the fact he will be a target as Espanyol try to derail their city rivals’ title chances.

“He is a specialist in putting up with these type of situations because if there is a player used to being fouled and, above all, fouled with force, it is Neymar,” said Enrique on Friday.

“He has been sent-off very few times in his career.

“He is a player that controls his emotions well, but without doubt tomorrow is a game in which controlling your emotions will be vital and necessary.”

Victory at the Bernabeu last weekend brought Barca back into the title race.

However, with both Real and Barca locked on 78 points, it is Madrid who retain the upper hand as they have a game in hand with five games remaining to Barca’s four.

“At this stage of the season every game is vital. At the Bernabeu it was because it was against a direct rival and not winning would have practically finished the title race.

“Now for the number of games left we need to win every game.”

Neymar is expected to replace Paco Alcacer in Barca’s only change from the side that started El Clasico last weekend.

However, that depends on Andres Iniesta overcoming a groin problem to start as the Spanish international didn’t train on Friday and is a doubt.

The world of football was left in shock, as the Catalans took a hiding at Turin. A 3-0 spanking left a sour taste on their mouth; the very taste of their own bitter pill they dish out to opponents on a weekly basis. However, more sorry are the bettors with bet365 who never saw this one coming.

Don Balon says the likes of Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta and Luis Suárez felt hung out to dry by Enrique in his post match statements.

“It does not matter if I consider the result to be fair or not,” he said.

“I have relived a nightmare, a regrettable feeling, the first half has been disastrous, we have given away two goals. I did not know how to transmit myself well to my players because it was not what I asked them for, I felt very sad and helpless, what I saw was very serious, I was watching the third part of what I suffered in Paris.

“The players see Enrique’s claims as an act of betrayal and it’s suggested they’re demanding an ‘internal’ apology from the coach.

There is even talk of a push from the players for Enrique to leave immediately if he doesn’t make amends.