Tag: Osimhen

Rangers’ Igbokwe drafted as replacement 

Nigeria’s Super Eagles will now have to do without the services of their talisman, Victor Osimhen ahead of the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers with South Africa and Benin Republic because of injury.  

According to the update from the team camp, the lanky striker who returned to action for Napoli last weekend has been ruled out again for 4 weeks due to injury.

Osimhen has been battling with injury in recent weeks and returned to action against Lecce last weekend after missing the Partenopei’s last two games.

Meanwhile, the team head coach, Finidi George has handed an invitation to another home-based player Kenneth Igboke who is expected to resume camp with the team.

Read Also: Osimhen favours  move to  Arsenal

Kenneth Igboke plays as a right-back for Enugu Rangers.

In a related development, the Super  Eagles training camp for the next month’s  double header will now open this weekend in Uyo after an initial plan for the team to train in Abuja was jettisoned in order to avoid distractions.

“The Super Eagles camp will now open by the weekend,” a top official reportedly said .

Nigeria will welcome South Africa in a crunch World Cup qualifier in Uyo on June 7.The game will be played from 8pm and so under floodlights. They will then fly out to take Cote d’Ivoire on June 10.

Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen, who has been in sensational form for Napoli for the past two seasons, reportedly favours a move to Arsenal.

However, the Gunners’ recent shift in focus towards signing a winger, instead of a striker, could throw a wrench in the works. With a hefty €130m release clause and competition from Chelsea, Arsenal will need to act decisively if they want to secure the in-demand striker’s signature.

Speaking on Radio Kiss Kiss Napoli, Italian journalist Valter De Maggio claimed that Victor Osimhen‘s preference is a move to Arsenal over other contenders, and if the Gunners don’t come calling, he may consider a move to the Middle East.

 “Osimhen wants the Premier League, if the offer doesn’t come then he would consider the Arab one. There is no club paying the clause today, Osimhen would like Arsenal otherwise he would consider Saudi Arabia,” De Maggio stated.

Read Also: Victor Osimhen declared fit for S’Africa clash

The “clause” refers to the €130m release clause that Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has set for the Nigerian striker, with no willingness for negotiation.

Osimhen‘s preference for the Premier League has been circulating for some time, with Arsenal and Chelsea named as potential suitors, but it’s hard to think of a big club that hasn’t been linked with a move for the 25-year-old who scored 17 goals this season and 31 last. 

However, recent reports indicate a shift in Arsenal‘s transfer priorities, with the Gunners now focusing on securing a new winger, potentially influenced by Kai Havertz‘s recent performances.

This change in focus could present a hurdle in any potential move for Osimhen, as Arsenal may not be willing to meet Napoli‘s hefty asking price. Whether Arsenal‘s interest in Osimhen will be rekindled or if the striker will consider other options (he seems to like Chelsea, too), including a move to Saudi Arabia, remains to be se

Victor Osimhen is fully focused on joining Chelsea even though Mauricio Pochettino has left his role as manager, while the Blues are well ahead of Paris Saint-Germain and Saudi clubs in the race for the striker.

After months of speculation about his future, Pochettino left Stamford Bridge by mutual consent on Tuesday night. Pochettino feels he has left Chelsea in a good position to improve next season, while Blues chiefs want a new manager to come in and take the side to the next level.

While Pochettino could replace Erik ten Hag at Manchester United, Chelsea are eyeing up Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna – coincidentally a former Man Utd coach – to fill their vacant Stamford Bridge hot seat.

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Despite Pochettino’s departure, some of Chelsea’s transfer plans are unlikely to change.

First of all, club officials know they need to make a huge investment to strengthen the attack, and the main target remains Victor Osimhen.

The Nigerian striker – whose release clause is €130m (£111m) – will leave Napoli in the summer and he desires to play in the Premier League next year, wearing a Chelsea shirt.

Sources have confirmed to TEAMtalk that Osimhen has already given his informal approval for a possible move to the Blues. Only some aspects of his prospective seven-year contract with Chelsea need to be discussed. Chelsea are willing to pay the centre-forward slightly more than what he earns at Napoli.

Manchester United, Chelsea, and PSG  reportedly remain interested in Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, while the Partenopei have been monitoring Real Madrid-owned defender Rafa Marin.

Napoli are preparing to part company with their star striker Osimhen. The Nigeria international is expected to make his final appearance in a Napoli shirt this coming weekend in a Serie A match against Lecce at the Stadio Maradona.

Osimhen has a €130m clause included in his contract with the Partenopei and according to Corriere dello Sport, Chelsea, Manchester United and PSG are among the clubs watching closely last season’s Serie A leading scorer.

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Gazzetta reported last week that Osimhen dreams of joining Chelsea, but no other media has confirmed this yet.

According to Corriere dello Sport, Lille and Canada striker Jonathan David is Napoli’s leading candidate to replace Osimhen, followed by Girona’s Artem Dovbyk. Romelu Lukaku has also been linked with a move to Napoli as Chelsea could include the Belgian in a swap deal for Osimhen.

Napoli are likely to  be without their talismanic striker Victor Osimhen for  Friday’s Italian Serie A clash with Fiorentina .

The Nigerian International  who suffered a muscle strain earlier in the week , has reportedly  been training separately from the rest of the  team.

“On Monday and Tuesday Osimhen underwent therapy and personalised training in the gym.Jesper Lindstrom and Piotr Zielinski followed custom programmes outside while Mario Rui had a gym session and Victor Osimhen had physiotherapy,” the club posted on their  website.  

Read Also: Osimhen awaits Chelsea’s offers amid PSG rumours

According to football Italia, The Partenopei fell behind the Viola in the Serie A standings last week and need to win this game to have any chance of getting eighth place.

The  news outlet stated further that  coach Francesco Calzona’s squad is significantly weakened without Osimhen who last year won the Italian Capocannoniere (top scorer award).

Osimhen scored 15 goals in Serie A this season, but has been affected by numerous injuries and his absence due to the Africa Cup of Nations in January and February.

If he doesn’t make it for Friday, then it is likely that Giacomo Raspadori or Giovanni Simeone will step in as the centre-forward.

Yet Osimhen is however expected to recover in time to be part of the Super Eagles team for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against South Africa and Republic of Benin next month.

Napoli striker Victor Osimhen is currently said to be keen on a move to the Premier League and he is willing to reject Paris Saint-Germain.

Chelsea recently made contact to understand the possibility of a deal for Osimhen and whether Napoli would be interested in taking cash plus Romelu Lukaku and a younger player in the move. Napoli, it was later reported, are interested in signing the Belgian this summer.

Read Also:Cannavaro admits Osimhen too clever for Udinese

Gianluca di Marzio has now informed Sky Italia (via CN24) that Osimhen would rather wait for Premier League clubs to make an approach instead of joining PSG. The possibility of playing at PSG doesn’t excite Osimhen because he has already played in France with Lille and two teams that can possibly land him in the Premier League are both Arsenal and Chelsea.

In the meantime, Napoli are talking to Chelsea about a deal which could involve Osimhen and Lukaku, with Di Marzio also stating that the Nigerian enjoys England and he is there regularly to have a good time with his friends. A move to PSG looks unlikely at this point.

• Serie A goal thrills Success

The newly appointed coach of Udinese Fabio Cannavaro has admitted that his players gave Super Eagles attacker, Victor Osimhen too much room to operate

Nigeria hitman Osimhen put Napoli ahead in the 51st  minute before  Isaac Success equalized late in the 92nd minute.

Cannavaro while reacting to the game said, his defenders took their eyes off Osimhen and were duly punished by the Nigerian.

“Napoli are tough to play against, they control the ball well and occupy the spaces. We were tight and largely neutralized them in the first half, also creating a few chances,” Cannavaro who played for Juventus and Real Madrid disclosed to the club’s website.

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 “I told the lads that the first 15 minutes of the second half were crucial, we couldn’t drop back or give them space, but when you have champions like Osimhen, he only needs one touch to score.

“We should’ve cut the cross off in the first place and we’ll work on that”, he noted.

In a related  development, Super Eagles attacker, Success Isaac   said he was thrilled to score against the former Serie A  champions.

Success’s last gasp strike ensured that Udinese secured a valuable point at home to league’s deposed Champions, Napoli who had Victor Osimhen scoring for them as well in the game.

 “The point is more important than the goal, it brings us closer to our goal,” Success stated in a chat with the club’s website.

“The draw comes against a great team, we wanted to take the three points in front of our fans but now we have to look forward, this draw gives us morale.”

Udinese are 18th  with 30 points from 35 games to still remain in the drop zone. They have must win games against Lecce (away), Empoli (home) and Frosinone (away) if they are to rescue their season once more.

Though heavily linked  with a move to Paris Saint Germain  in the summer, English Premier  league side, Chelsea  are reportedly deploying new strategies  to snatch away Nigeria international striker Victor Osimhen.

It is already a foreclosed conclusion that the 25-year-old Nigeria International  will be leaving Napoli at the Summer  but the  staggering €120m release clause had  all been headache of many  of the potential suitors  with both  PSG and Chelsea  being the leading contenders for his signature.

PSG are gearing up to lose Kylian Mbappe and have identified Osimhen as a strong option to bolster their frontline, whilst Chelsea are desperate to turn things around after a fairly miserable season under Mauricio Pochettino.

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But leading Italian tabloid  Gazzetta dello Sport has  detailed  how Chelsea have drawn up a plan to try and convince Osimhen to accept the move to West London in the summer, coming up with a deal that they hope will convince  Napoli owner De Laurentiis and Napoli.

Prepared to pay the striker well over his current €10m net per season wages, the Blues are not keen to pay his release clause in full and instead are looking to pay around €80m as part of a deal that also includes Romelu Lukaku and an unnamed young player.

Vincenzo D’Angelo of La Gazzetta dello Sport  further claimed that  Osimhen could be enticed by the prospect of joining Chelsea as it has been his dream to play in the Premier League and follow in the footsteps of his idol Didier Drogba, who is amongst the club’s history books.

In a related development, top transfer expert Gianluca Di Marzio,  said despite  Chelsea’s bold bid to sign Osimhen away from Napoli,  PSG remain odds-on favourites to finally sign the Super Eagles star striker. It has already been reported that they see Osimhen as a direct replacement for Kylian Mbappe, who is set to join Real Madrid.

The newly crowned Ligue 1 champions are reportedly prepared to match the 130 Million Euros clause in the new contract Osimhen recently signed with Napoli.

Liverpool  have intensified their search for reinforcements and have joined the competition for the signature of Victor Osimhen, a striker coveted by several clubs in the Premier League and beyond.

According to Corriere dello Spornjunto Red has expressed interest in the Nigerian striker and is among the teams that could compete for his services. The forward, who has scored 16 goals this season for Napoli , has a release clause of 130 million euros, meaning that the Italian club will not be able to avoid selling him if a team activates said clause.

For Liverpool, this move comes at a time of need following a series of adverse results in various competitions. The fans have shown their discontent, and the club has been linked to several forwards in search of solutions. Osimhen joins that list after his outstanding season in Serie A.

Read Also: Osimhen, Ademola , Dessers , Onuachu  paint Europe with   goals 

However, signing Osimhen will not be an easy task for Liverpool as they would have to shell out a considerable sum to activate his release clause. This could mean the need to make surprise sales to finance the transfer, which could include the departure of players such as Darwin Núñez.

In addition to Liverpool, other Premier League teams are also interested in Osimhen. Manchester United, Chelsea, and Arsenal are among the clubs that have shown interest in the Nigerian striker. Chelsea, in particular, could have an advantage in negotiations due to their willingness to discuss payment terms.

May ‘replace’ Darwin Nunez at An field

Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen could be on his way to Anfield giants, Liverpool  in the summer despite  already  linked  with a move from Napoli to either  PSG or Chelsea.   

Doubts remain over Darwin Nunez’s ability to lead the line for Liverpool and according to reports in Italy, the Reds could be one of the clubs looking to sign Osimhen.

The Uruguay international has scored 18 goals and added 13 assists in 51 appearances across all competitions for the Reds this season. That has seen him improve on his tally of 15 goals and four assists in his first campaign at Anfield.

In fact, Jamie Carragher is among those unconvinced that Núñez can lead Liverpool to the biggest trophies, and has claimed the club faces a ‘big decision’ on his future this summer. Reports on the continent suggest a replacement may have already been identified.

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According to Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport, Osimhen wants to leave Napoli this summer, and Liverpool has been added to the list of potential suitors. Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain are also linked.

The Nigeria international would come at a fairly hefty cost though. Osimhen is said to have a $139m (£111m/€130m) clause in his contract, although the report suggests PSG is currently leading the race and ready to offer $96m (£77m/€90m).

Osimhen though is said to be dreaming of a move to the Premier League, which could play into Liverpool’s hands. The Reds also hold an advantage over United and Chelsea, with Champions League football set to be back at Anfield next season.