Tag: Victor Osimhen

Various sources have confirmed that Juventus are the latest European club to join the fray and are expected to back it up with concrete moves in their attempts to sign Super Eagles forward, Victor Osimhen from Napoli.

The Bianconeri are planning to offload Dusan Vlahovic this summer after failing to live up to expectations. Therefore, they’ll be looking to sign a top-notch striker who can guarantee goals.

In recent months, the Turin-based giants have been heavily linked with Osimhen who will return to Napoli in the summer following a successful loan spell at Galatasaray.

Former Juventus Football Director Cristiano Giuntoli had been dreaming of a reunion with the Nigerian striker.

But despite the departure of the former Napoli official, Osimhen remains a highly-appreciated figure at Continassa,  according to  Italian journalist,  Davide Abrescia.

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 “Osimhen is very much liked by Juve,” said Abrescia told  Sky Sport Italia via TuttoJuve.“Let’s remember that the €75m release clause is only valid abroad, so Juventus must negotiate with Napoli. Giuntoli really liked him, and the current Juventus technical department still likes him.

 “It is not excluded that in the next few days, a discussion could be started between Napoli and Juventus, but let’s remember that the figure that Napoli would like is between 70-75 million.”

Yet Abrescia has warned  Juventus of the stern competition for the services of the 26-year-old striker from  both  or Liverpool who are also seeking a new striker as well Al-Hilal who are adamant about signing the Nigerian ace  despite  initial rejection.

 “Al-Hilal could be a solution because today, only an Arab club can get close to the figures. The player, however, was not convinced and wants to play his cards in Europe,” he continued. “There are several teams that are interested, but the strikers’ merry-go-round has yet to start.”

 “There is also Liverpool who are looking for a new centre-forward, and Osimhen is a name that they like a lot.”

Osimhen’s contract with Napoli is valid until June 2026, but they have the option to push back the deadline for another year.

Victor Osimhen believes he can still achieve his ‘dream’ transfer to the Premier League this summer, with the Napoli striker said to be holding out for Manchester United to make their move.

Osimhen performed a last-minute U-turn to reject a stunning offer from Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal, who had offered the Nigerian a three-year contract worth €40 million per season.

The 26-year-old has instead decided to wait until later in the summer to resolve his future, with Italian outlet Gazzetta reporting that Osimhen sees his future in the ‘big leagues’ and won’t rush into other moves.

Osimhen’s top aim has continued to be the Premier League, having seen a move to Chelsea collapse on deadline day last summer, although his wage demands have limited his opportunities in England this year despite interest from Man United.

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But United are claimed to still be interested in Osimhen and Ruben Amorim’s side could offer the forward his dream pathway to the Premier League if they can strike a deal.

However, Napoli have informed Osimhen that they will only accept his €75m release clause as a fee ‘and not a cent less’, leading to United reportedly offering Joshua Zirkzee as a potential makeweight in any transfer.

Gazzetta confirmed  Osimhen is aware of Manchester United’s interest, and the Red Devils are now working on a first offer for the Napoli-owned striker.

The Red Devils seem reluctant to match the striker’s €75m clause, meaning that they’ll consider a player-plus-cash swap deal.

According to the report, Zirkzee is one of the players who could be included in the offer from Old Trafford.

A former Bologna striker, Zirkzee scored seven goals in 49 appearances across all competitions with the Red Devils in 2024-25.

But Osimhen moving to Old Trafford seems unlikely if the striker doesn’t lower his wage demands but United will be hoping that his desire to move to England may turn into desperation the further into the summer they get.

Nigerian International striker Victor Osimhen  is reportedly  holding out  against a move to  Al Hilal after rejecting  an improved €30 thirty million euros (about N53 million) per annum  salary from the Saudi Pro League side 

 While  Football Italia claimed  Osimhen  had  turned down  the Saudi’s ‘opening proposal’ of €26m (about N46 billion) per annum salary for a three-year deal, other outlets including Sky Sports  asserted over the weekend  that  both  Napoli and  the  Nigerian ace had agreed  to a formal deal.

Incidentally,  Napoli  which  turned down  Al-Hilal’s offer of €70m presumably  agreed  to a deal  for the 26-year-old striker after the Saudi side  agreed to pay the full €75m release clause valid for teams outside of Serie A.

In what has become a long-drawn-out transfer  deal for the Nigerian, Al-Hilal had been pushing to bring Osimhen to the club in time for the start of the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup, which kicks off on June 14.

The Saudi outfit  were to pay the €75m fee over three instalments, following a request from new head coach Simone Inzaghi to pay the extra €6m-€7m needed to get the deal done after having their initial bid turned down.

“The Saudi giants, now coached by former Inter tactician Simone Inzaghi, had also offered an enormous €30m-per-season contract offer to the 26-year-old, who has since decided to reject the offer,” Football Italia  reporter, Alfredo Pedullà, noted. “Osimhen’s rejection of the Al-Hilal offer is considered definitive.

“The player has expressed a desire to continue playing in Europe. It remains to be seen whether Galatasaray, where Osimhen spent the 2024-25 season, will return with another attempt to make the loan deal permanent,” he added.

The Napoli-owned centre-forward came up with a tally of 37 goals from 41 appearances across all competitions during his loan spell in Istanbul.

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 But Turkey-based journalist Onur Dincer, last night told  NationSport  that Galatasaray  are equally expecting  a final word  from Osimhen  despite offering  half of what  Al Hilal has tabled for the former FIFA U-17 World  Cup winner.

“ Of course, Galatasaray  are waiting for  his (Osimhen) decision,” Dincer who is attached with Millyet Newspaper, told NationSport. “ Galatasaray offered him nearly N15 million  euros , now he has to decide.”

Osimhen has been under contract with Napoli for the last five years, having joined in a €70m deal from Lille in 2020. He netted 65 goals from 108 Serie A appearances, and played a crucial role in helping Napoli to their first Serie A title in well over 30 years during the 2022-23 season.

However, after a tough season across the board in 2023-24, Osimhen was expected to be sold.

A permanent exit never materialised in the summer of 2024, and the Nigerian saw negotiations with both Chelsea and Al-Ahli collapse in spectacular fashion on deadline day last year.

That led to his joining Galatasaray on loan for the 2024-25 season, where he has since provided 37 goals from 41 matches in all competitions.

Now, still under contract with Napoli, the Nigerian is expected to be sold to Al-Hilal, who are now under the stewardship of head coach Inzaghi following his recent departure as head coach of Inter.

Victor Osimhen has moved one step closer to finally sealing his permanent exit from Napoli.

According to journalist Sacha Tavolieri, an agreement between Osimhen and Al-Hilal over personal terms is in place, with the striker set to be paid the equivalent of $35 million (£29m/$40m) as a base rate over the course of his contract, topped up with add-ons. A transfer is nearing completion.

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But, despite the breakthrough with the player, Al-Hilal is still short of an agreement with Napoli. Journalist Gianluca Di Marzio notes that the Saudi giants’ best offer is €70m (£59m/$80m) and Napoli want €75m (£63m/$86m).

Negotiations between the clubs over the transfer fee are set to continue. If Al-Hilal are quick, they will be able to use Osimhen at the FIFA Club World Cup, with the mini-transfer window created for the early part of the summer before the tournament closes on June 10.

The ongoing ‘wheeling and dealing’  to prise Victor Osimhen away from Napoli has assumed an interesting dimension  following reports  that the  Nigerian ace  has rejected an  opening €26m (about N46 billion) per season salary being tabled by Saudi Pro League side, Al-Hilal.

Multiple outlets in Italy  have confirmed Al-Hilal’ s approach  for the Super Eagles forward  but  Football Italia has claimed that  while Osimhen  has turned down  the Saudi’s ‘opening proposal’  of €26m  , Napoli have equally  turned down the opening Al-Hilal offer for the 26-year-old striker  demanding the full  payment of the €75m (about N134 Billion) release clause,

Football Italia had already confirmed that Al-Hilal were making a strong bid to sign Osimhen , including a phone call from new coach Simone Inzaghi who joined the Saudi train  from Inter Milan.

The opening proposal  (to Napoli) for Osimhen was believed to worth €65m plus bonuses, but Sky Sport Italia, Fabrizio Romano and others are all adamant Napoli rejected it outright.

The €26m per season salary, plus bonuses, is considered insufficient for him to join the Saudi Pro League.

Those in the know claimed  that  for Osimhen  to leave Galatasaray and European football, he wants it to be for an eye-watering sum of money.

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“Juventus have practically given up on Osimhen following the departure of director Cristiano Giuntoli, while Premier League sides Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal are all looking towards other targets first,” noted  Football Italia’s Susy Campanale, adding: “Meanwhile, Sky Sports Deutschland claim that Galatasaray have made an offer to make the Osimhen loan move a permanent one but is worth €15m per season wages, plus a transfer fee of €65m, but again those are likely to be rejected by both parties.”

This week, erstwhile Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr, had counselled Osimhen to accept  a big money move to the Saudi Pro League in order to preserve his burgeoning  football career in Europe, adding the striker who helped  Galatasaray (on loan)  to a unique double  in the just concluded season with an impressive 37 goals in all  competitions, must apply some restraints  and wisdom  to make a wise decision amid  tempting offers.

“Victor should stay in Europe in order to  progress positively still, and not to run to Saudi Arabia,” the vastly experienced former Bundesliga defender told NationSport. “Going to Saudi Arabia should be  towards  the end of his career and not now.”

He added: “ Of course, this is a personal decision for Victor and I know  Victor  is very clever (to take the right decision).”

“ But  Victor will do what he wants. We  have to wish him the best.”

Multiple sources in Italy have  claimed  Napoli-owned striker Victor Osimhen has rejected the chance to join Juventus next summer.

Naples-based media Il Mattino and Radio Kiss Kiss report that Nigerian forward Osimhen won’t join Juventus in 2025-26.

The 26-year-old scorer of 36 goals across all competitions this season had emerged as the Old Lady’s primary target for the attack, but according to the latest reports, the striker has now closed the door for a move to the Allianz Stadium.

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As per Radio Kiss Kiss, this means Arsenal and Manchester United have been handed a big boost in the race for the Nigeria international as both Premier League sides have been following him for months.

According to the report, PSG remain interested in Osimhen after signing his ex-Napoli teammate Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in the January transfer window.

Osimhen has a €75m clause in his Napoli contract, which is not valid for clubs in Serie A.

The Napoli-owned forward continues attracting interest from Saudi sides, and his current club, Galatasaray, are also considering an offer to sign him permanently, according to Il Mattino.

Osimhen is under contract with Napoli until 2026, but the Partenopei have an option to extend to 2027 if the striker doesn’t find a new club in the next summer transfer window.