Osimhen’s ‘SUPER OFFER’ from top European club as Napoli ‘MISTAKE’ admitted

Robin Bairner

27 Jul 2024 13:45 BST
4 min read

Victor Osimhen reacts to Napoli's Serie A defeat to Bologna, 2023/24 — © IMAGO

Victor Osimhen remains stuck at Napoli for the moment, despite his clear desire for a summer transfer.

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Chelsea, Arsenal and PSG are three of the major clubs who have persistently been linked with a move for the 25-year-old striker, but with Napoli standing firm in their demand that Osimhen’s €130 million release clause be matched, none have been tempted into a move.

PSG have agreed personal terms with Osimhen, yet they have been unable to get the Italians to budge on their demands.

EXCLUSIVE: PSG hold transfer talks with Napoli's Victor Osimhen

Former Napoli sporting director Mauro Meluso has now admitted that the Serie A club have made grave errors with their transfer strategy for the hitman.

Speaking to SportItalia (via Corriere dello Sport), he said: “We made some mistakes in the management of Osimhen.

“I arrived at Napoli in mid-July and I knew that there had been a super offer from one of the biggest teams in Europe. In hindsight, perhaps we could have sold him.”

Why Napoli stance was a mistake

Instead of allowing Osimhen to leave, Napoli negotiated a new contract with their star man.

In this deal, he agreed a €10 million-per-year deal running until 2026, with the understanding that the Serie A club would sell him this summer.

The €130m bid that Napoli expected, though, has not materialised. In part, this has been due to a marginal dip in Osimhen’s form – he scored 17 goals in 32 outings last season compared to 31 in 39 the campaign before – but it has also come about due to a general deflation of transfer fees.

But beyond the high transfer fee, matching or bettering Osimhen’s wage is a further financial burden that buyers have to consider, taking him further out of reach of most clubs. His Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) sits at €71.1m, having reached a maximum of €81m previously.

As such, he remains stuck at Napoli, with some sources describing him as a “prisoner” of the club.

Osimhen, meanwhile, may have to consider the possibility of moving to the Saudi Pro League if Napoli remain adamant they will not accept a cut-price deal for their striker.