Osimhen to Chelsea: Napoli star's eyecatching new release clause

Suraj Radia

• 13 Dec 2023 19:41 GMT
• 3 min read

Victor Osimhen is set to sign a new contract at Napoli that would contain a release clause giving Chelsea and other interested clubs a firm price to pay to sign the prolific striker.

Osimhen has arguably been the hottest forward in football in recent times, having scored 32 times in Serie A since the start of last season and attracting interest from Europe’s major teams.

The 24-year-old is said to be a top target for Chelsea in January but reports in Italy have suggested that Napoli are close to agreeing a new contract with Osimhen after months of negotiation.

Osimhen’s current deal is set to expire in 2025 but his new contract will add a further year to his deal as well as a ‘significant’ pay rise and, perhaps most intriguingly, a release clause of between €130 and €140 million, according to Gianluca di Marzio.

Napoli have always been confident of tying their talismanic striker to a new contract despite his initial unhappiness at the start of the season and a deal is expected to be formalised imminently.

Osimhen likely to be sold even with new contract

Despite Osimhen being ready to formally commit his future to Napoli, there is a belief the Nigerian international will still be sold in 2024, having been open about his dream of playing in the Premier League.

Chelsea have pushed the most for Osimhen in recent times but Mauricio Pochettino’s side will likely be unable to make a mid-season move for the striker due to their financial constraints.

The Blues have spent more than €1billion since Todd Boehly’s takeover last year and their staggering outlay has led to the club being forced to sell before they can make any further big money signings.

Chelsea have reportedly identified Viktor Gyokeres as an alternative but the Sporting forward could also cost in excess of €100m but they could face competition from Arsenal for both players.

While Napoli look unlikely to retain their Serie A title this season, sitting 6th in the table, Walter Mazzarri’s side have secured their spot in the knockout rounds of the Champions League, meaning Osimhen is likely to remain at the club until the summer at least.