The contract includes a release clause of approximately £113 million, which Napoli would be unable to counter if activated.
By Paul Tuama
Chelsea are still pursuing a deal for Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, despite reports suggesting they had shifted focus to other attacking options, Waffi TV reports.
Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has confirmed Osimhen’s departure, even though the striker signed a contract extension until 2026 last year. The contract includes a release clause of approximately £113 million, which Napoli would be unable to counter if activated.
Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, and Arsenal are seen as the main contenders for the Nigerian international, though Arsenal is unlikely to meet the nine-figure fee.
A recent report indicated that new Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca did not see Osimhen as a perfect fit for his system, preferring a striker who can drop deep and link play rather than a pure target man. Additionally, concerns about breaching Profit and Sustainability rules might complicate Chelsea’s pursuit of Osimhen, who is considered a potential replacement for Real Madrid-bound Kylian Mbappe at PSG.
However, CaughtOffside reports that Chelsea are still making ‘slow progress’ in their efforts to sign the 25-year-old striker. PSG’s interest is well-known, but they have yet to make a formal offer, leaving Napoli’s £113 million demands unmet.
Chelsea might have an advantage, as Napoli, now managed by Antonio Conte, are reportedly interested in Romelu Lukaku as Osimhen’s replacement. Lukaku excelled under Conte at Inter Milan but has struggled during his second stint at Chelsea. The Blues are eager to offload Lukaku this summer, even at a cut-price £37 million, despite re-signing him for £97.5 million.
If the Lukaku deal falls through, Napoli are also considering Girona’s Artem Dovbyk and Feyenoord’s Santiago Gimenez as possible replacements for Osimhen.
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