Napoli Sets Asking Price for Victor Osimhen Amid Chelsea’s Pursuit, Reports suggest Naples has settled on an asking price for Victor Osimhen, with Chelsea leading the race for the Nigerian striker.
Since joining Napoli from Lille in 2020, Osimhen has excelled, scoring 65 goals and providing 16 assists in 112 appearances across various competitions.
His significant contributions played a pivotal role in Napoli’s Serie A triumph in the 2022-23 season, ending their over three-decade-long wait for the league title.
Under a new manager and trailing Inter Milan by eight points, there’s a distinct atmosphere at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona this season.
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Amidst this change, Osimhen, though still influential, has been surrounded by ongoing speculation about his future.
Additionally, he recently faced criticism from the club’s social media team with two offensive posts.
With just over 19 months left on his contract, a decision looms on Osimhen’s next steps, but progress seems stalled.
Osimhen’s reported disinterest in renewing, Napoli’s president, Aurelio De Laurentiis, is ready to take a tough stance on a potential sale, aiming to secure a profit on the €80m spent over three years ago.
Clubs like Chelsea and Arsenal, both said to admire the 24-year-old, have long been aware that acquiring Osimhen in January or next summer would demand a fee surpassing the initial amount.
However, according to Il Mattino, De Laurentiis is currently holding out for €150m (£130.06m) for their prized player.
Response from potential suitors to this stance remains uncertain, especially amid recent claims of Chelsea plotting a January move.
However, co-owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital might face constraints due to their FFP limitations, making the fee unattainable unless they offset it with several sales.
Regarding Arsenal, such a valuation automatically eliminates their interest.
Reports indicate they are prioritizing other positions as of the beginning of 2024.
