Napoli‘s sporting director Giovanni Manna has confirmed that star striker Victor Osimhen has requested to leave the club before the end of the present transfer window.
Manna revealed Osimhen’s intention to move on following his absence from Napoli’s Coppa Italia game on against Modena Saturday.
“Victor is a player who wants to leave. He has asked to go,” Manna said, addressing the growing speculation about Osimhen’s future.
Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) are potential destinations for the prolific striker. Chelsea, a long-time admirer of Osimhen, are exploring a move for him despite nearing a £35m deal for Atletico Madrid’s Samu Omorodion.
Meanwhile, PSG have reportedly agreed on personal terms with Osimhen but are hesitant about Napoli’s asking price, which exceeds £100m.
Chelsea are aiming to secure Osimhen on an initial loan deal, although his representatives are currently only considering offers for a permanent transfer.
Napoli’s interest in Chelsea’s Romelu Lukaku adds another dimension to the transfer saga. New Napoli manager Antonio Conte is interested in bringing Lukaku to the club as Osimhen’s replacement.
Manna, however, reduced expectations, stating, “Lukaku is a Chelsea player, and with [Giacomo] Raspadori and others in the squad, we are calm. An offensive player could arrive, but it is not certain that it will be Lukaku.”
While acknowledging Osimhen’s quality, describing him as “a strong player,” Manna emphasized the club’s priority of maintaining team cohesion.
“We want to give integrity to the group and we prefer to protect the creation of the team group,” he added.
In addition to PSG and Chelsea, Arsenal are reportedly interested in signing the Nigerian striker as they seek to strengthen their attack.
The 2023/24 Premier League runners-up hope to generate funds from the departure of Eddie Nketiah to French side Marseille, with Emile Smith Rowe already having joined Fulham.
