Tag: Victor Osimhen

Coach Antonio Conte has admitted  that Napoli  has got off to a disastrous start with a 3-0 loss to Verona in their Serie A opener on Sunday  even as he parried  question over  the  future  of Nigeria international striker, Victor Osimhen.

In his post-match interview with Sky Sport, Conte expressed deep disappointment and concern about his team’s performance even  as he expressed worries over the ‘unplayable’ circumstance of  the Super eagles forward.

““This is a question you should ask the club, not me,” Conte was quoted as saying.“ I’ve seen that Osimhen has been training separately since the retreat. “

But Sky Sports News’ Kaveh Solhekol was more forthcoming  about  the on-going  transfer saga  between Napoli and Chelsea  as per Osimhen and Romelu Lukaku.

“Napoli need Lukaku, Chelsea need Osimhen – the smart money is on those deals happening,” he said. “Osimhen would change the mood at Chelsea. He’s the player Chelsea fans want. He has got the personality, experience and presence they need. Someone in the mould of Didier Drogba or Diego Costa. A superstar. But the problem is his wages.

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“Napoli can’t afford him. They gave him a new contract but he’s on massive wages. He wasn’t involved on Sunday in their bad defeat to Verona and is training away from the first team. PSG are also in the mix but Chelsea know Napoli want Lukaku.”

In a related development, top Transfer Expert  Sacha Tavolieri has reported that PSG are looking for an attacking player, more like a second striker, after injury will side-line their forward Goncalo Ramos for at least three months.

That may explain why the French Ligue 1 giants could now be interested in Ademola Lookman as he fits what they are looking for.

Chelsea are therefore the most likely destination for Osimhen in this long-drawn transfer saga, according to Tavolieri.

Victor Osimhen’s hope of joining PSG increased after Gonçalo Ramos was ruled out for three months after injury.

Osimhen’s transfer move this summer has been one of the biggest news stories that has made the rounds in recent weeks.

The forward has been linked with a move to many top clubs across Europe, but a transfer deal is yet to materialise.

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African Player of the Year Osimhen could finally get his dream wish of playing for PSG after it was confirmed that Ramos would be out for a long time due to injury.

According to Fabrizio on X, “Gonçalo Ramos has suffered a fractured left ankle and he will be out for at least three months, as Le Parisien reported. PSG will now consider bringing in a new striker in the final days.”

Meanwhile, Chelsea have reportedly prioritised landing Victor Osimhen after their move for Samu Omorodion fell through.

Chelsea   are reportedly  deploying help from former players and fellow countrymen, John  Mikel  Obi and Didier  Drogba in last ditch attempt  to  secure  the signature  of  Victor Osimhen from Napoli.

With Nigeria international  reluctant  about the idea of joining Chelsea because they are not in the Champions League, the English Premier League  side  according to Times Sport, are enlisting the  support of both Mikel and Drogba.

“I hope that Chelsea fans will finally see him come to the club,” said Mikel. “I’ll make sure I send him those text messages and calls, making sure Chelsea is his top priority.  “But it seems like he loves the club and wants to come to Chelsea. I’m sure he has all the big clubs wanting to sign him. I think if we can secure his signature it would be fantastic for the club.

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 “Didier is also speaking to him, sharing his own ideas and what the club means to us. We all want to see Victor come to the club. If it happens, it happens. It’s a huge transfer fee, but if we can match it and get him to the club that would be absolutely.”

Meanwhile, according to multiple sources including Sky Sport Italia, Sportitalia and Calciomercato.com, Napoli director Manna is currently in London for a new meeting with Chelsea and he hopes to get the deal done over the next 24 hours.

While the Premier League side value Lukaku at over €40m, the Napoli idea would be closer to €30-35m including add-ons.

Osimhen has a release clause in his contract worth €130m, but would probably be prepared to accept nearer to €100m plus bonuses.

Chelsea have made a surprising late move in the transfer market by targeting Napoli’s star striker, Victor Osimhen.

 This development comes after the club has already spent €189 million on 12 new signings this summer. Despite securing Pedro Neto from Wolverhampton for €60 million, Chelsea’s plans for strengthening their attack took an unexpected turn when Samu Omorodion returned to Atletico Madrid after initially joining the Blues.

Osimhen has emerged as Chelsea’s primary target, even though the club’s manager, Enzo Maresca, initially preferred a more associative striker. Calciomercato report that the club had previously proposed a loan deal with an option to buy Osimhen, but Napoli’s owner, Aurelio De Laurentiis, remains firm on requiring an offer close to the striker’s €130 million release clause.

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The negotiations with Napoli are further complicated by Chelsea’s interest in offloading Romelu Lukaku. The Belgian striker, who spent last season on loan at Roma, could be involved in a potential swap deal with Napoli. Lukaku is keen to reunite with former manager Antonio Conte in Naples, which could facilitate the deal.

Chelsea’s pursuit of Osimhen is part of a broader strategy to enhance their attacking options, with the Nigerian forward seen as a key addition to their squad. The club’s aggressive approach in the transfer market reflects their ambition to compete at the highest level in the upcoming season

Napoli sporting director Giovanni Manna has confirmed that Victor Osimhen is not featuring under Antonio Conte as he wishes to leave the club, and that the coaching staff wants to protect ‘the integrity of the group.’

Osimhen was absent again for Napoli’s Coppa Italia first-round fixture against Modena at the Stadio Maradona on Saturday night.

The Nigerian has not featured in any of Napoli’s pre-season fixtures this summer. His last appearance in an Azzurri shirt came off the bench in a 0-0 draw against Lecce on the final day of the 2023-24 Serie A season.

Though countless reports suggest Napoli are targeting a move for former Inter and Roma striker Romelu Lukaku as a replacement, Manna suggests that the Partenopei already have players ready to step in amongst the current squad.

 “Victor is a player who wants to leave, and last year there was already a situation in place. We are calm because we have players in the squad ready to replace him,” Manna told SportMediaset on Saturday evening, reported via Gianluca Di Marzio.

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Napoli have not yet found a suitor for Osimhen, but Manna suggested that anything can happen in the coming weeks.

 “Osimhen is a strong player, but we want to protect the integrity of the group and we prefer to protect the harmony of the group. But we will see what happens over the next 20 days.”

Napoli know they must push through a deal with Chelsea for Romelu Lukaku next week, noted transfer expert Matteo Moretto, but there is still no progress for Osimhen’s situation.

Paris Saint-Germain have come closest so far, while Arsenal and Chelsea do not seem particularly enthusiastic about the Nigeria international.

As that drags on and he is left out of all pre-season matches, including the Coppa Italia against Modena, the focus turns to bringing in Lukaku even before Osimhen’s future has been resolved.

Napoli are facing a challenging situation in the final weeks of the transfer window, particularly concerning their striker position. Victor Osimhen remains a Napoli player over a month into the summer transfer market, creating a complex scenario for the club. His continued presence is becoming problematic; he sometimes trains with the team, other time work out in the gym, but has not participated in friendlies and is not expected to be on the bench for the upcoming Coppa Italia match against Modena. Although Osimhen has a €130 million release clause, no official offers have been made for him.

Calciomercato reported  that Antonio Conte is eager to start working with a new striker, with Romelu Lukaku being the primary target. Conte wishes to proceed with the Lukaku deal even before Osimhen’s departure. However, financial considerations are crucial, as Osimhen earns nearly €11 million per season, while Lukaku would command around €6 million. If Osimhen remains, Napoli could find themselves with two potential starting strikers, both carrying significant salaries. Therefore, Napoli aim to sell Osimhen before securing Lukaku.

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Conte is pressed for time as the season’s official start looms. Napoli faces Modena at the Maradona Stadium for the Coppa Italia’s round of 32, with Osimhen not starting and Lukaku yet to join. Other physical strikers, such as Simeone and Cheddira, are on the market, leaving Raspadori likely to lead the attack, as he did in recent friendlies against Brest and Girona. With the Serie A opener against Verona just 10 days away, Conte hopes to have Lukaku in the squad soon, although it remains uncertain.

Victor Osimhen is still in the waiting room, still on the lookout for his exit from Napoli.

He has continued to train mostly on his own at the Napoli pre-season training site of Castel di Sangro.

On Tuesday, he worked out apart from the squad both in the morning and evening.

The 25-year-old striker is not expected to be named on the matchday squad for a Coppa Italia clash against Modena Saturday.

His preferred destination is PSG. He has even given his word to the perennial Ligue 1 champions and a five-year contract with an annual salary of 14 Million Euros has already been agreed.

The stumbling block is the transfer fee they will pay Napoli as they are not prepared to meet the release clause of 130 Million Euros.

The other option for Osimhen will be Saudi Arabia.

Transfer Experts have now suggested that Chelsea interest in Osimhen will effectively end should they sign another striker with Nigerian roots, Samu Omorodion from Atletico Madrid.

Both strikers have a similar style that Omorodion has even been dubbed ‘The New Osimhen’.

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Chelsea are working on a deal to sign Omorodion from Atletico Madrid.

Atletico agreed an £81.5m deal to sign Manchester City forward Julian Alvarez on Monday, and selling Omorodion will help raise funds to buy the Argentine.

It is understood personal terms have now been agreed with Alvarez, who will join for an initial £64.4m, with a further £17.1m in potential add-ons.

Omorodion, 20, joined Atletico last summer – days after making his La Liga debut for Granada, when he scored against the Madrid side.

Atletico immediately sent Omorodion to Alaves on loan, and he scored eight goals in 35 appearances last season.

He is currently at the Olympics and has scored once in Spain’s run to the final.

So far this summer, Chelsea have spent about £115m on midfielders Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Renato Veiga and Omari Kellyman, plus goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen, defenders Tosin Adarabioyo and Caleb Wiley, winger Estevao Willian and striker Marc Guiu.

Nigeria international striker Victor Osimhen is expected to complete his  transfer from Napoli to Paris Saint-Germain on or before Thursday, according to Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport.

Speculations were rife  over the weekend that  the French Champions  are  ‘close to unblocking the deal’ for  Osimhen with Napoli reportedly ready  to give a slight discount on Osimhen’s €130m release clause. 

According to  Football Italia, the Parisian giants have decided to fully focus on a deal for the 25-year-old Nigerian striker and have been in close contact with Partenopei president Aurelio De Laurentiis and the player’s agent Roberto Calenda in recent days.

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On Saturday, Osimhen  missed the club’s second pre-season friendly  as the coach Antonio Conte-led side  beat Mantova 3-0, following  their earlier  4-0 win  against Anaune Val di Non in  the first pre-season game.

But yesterday, Football Italia  reported that  Corriere dello Sport detailed  how Napoli are hoping to sell Osimhen to PSG by Thursday next week, allowing them to finally pull the trigger on the deal with Chelsea for Lukaku, who is waiting to be reunited with Antonio Conte.

The Belgian striker has reportedly  returned from his holiday in Turkey and is now individually training to start preparing for the move. He has agreed to a three-year contract worth €10m gross per season, taking advantage of the Growth Decree tax relief.

Napoli will pay Chelsea around €25m including add-ons for Lukaku, obtaining a significant discount on the circa €44m (£37.5m) release clause.

It’s all coming home to roost for  Victor Osimhen as Napoli’s new coach Antonio Conte  has  said that the Nigeria International striker must have the right attitude to remain at the Serie A side. 

The 25-year-old Osimhen has been subject of intense transfer speculation over the last few months with potential links to some of the biggest  clubs in Europe including Chelsea, PSG amongst others.

But interest in the player has since waned after Napoli pegged his transfer fee to a mind-blowing €120 million Euros even more so after the player’s  petulant rant against former Super Eagles coach Finidi George. 

Speaking specifically about Osimhen at the team’s pre-season training camp in Dimaro on Saturday, Conte reportedly described the Nigerian as  ‘ a top player’,  adding he must continue to work hard with the right attitude to continue his career at Napoli.

Conte added: “We are talking about Victor as a professional, an excellent, top player.

 “I spoke to him and he knows that absolutely nothing has changed. He belongs to Napoli and he knows that those who belong to Napoli have to work hard and have the right attitude, even if there is this sort of agreement, that we still don’t know how it will end.

Despite the uncertainties, Osimhen remains a hot topic among football fans and analysts. Discussions on platforms like mostbet Türkiye highlight the striker’s potential and the speculation surrounding his future. Many believe that if he continues to perform at a high level, his value will only increase, making it crucial for Napoli to manage his career and marketability effectively.

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 “He’s here with a smile, and what counts at the moment is the training this afternoon and the attitude with me and my colleagues.”

Conte insisted there were no major developments over a potential transfer for Osimhen, adding  that there is a sort of ‘agreement’ linked to the 25-year-old’s possible departure.

Though the Nigeria international has been widely tipped for a move away from the Stadio Maradona this summer, Napoli have not yet received any sort of formal proposal from any club.

Napoli would, of course, need to sell Osimhen first if they are to acquire some of their other attacking targets this summer, such as Chelsea’s Romelu Lukaku.

Explaining the situation surrounding Napoli’s transfer window, Conte said: “After my signature, the most difficult thing was to realign the whole situation and put Napoli back in the centre of all the important business.

“The situation now allows us to stay one step ahead thanks to everyone here, the club and thanks to the players who have understood. I expressed myself very clearly and with a vision that is hard to go against. Now the club is back in the spotlight.”