‘Prisoner’ Osimhen makes dramatic transfer U-turn

Robin Bairner

24 Jul 2024 12:30 BST
2 min read

Victor Osimhen, Antonio Conte, Napoli — © IMAGO

Victor Osimhen will leave Napoli in the transfer window, and with the likes of Chelsea and PSG monitoring his progress, there are big-name clubs still tracking him.

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Napoli’s asking price, though, has so far put these teams off. The Serie A giants are demanding his release clause of €130 million is met before agreeing to a sale.

PSG have agreed personal terms with the player, but their talks with his club remain at an impasse. Though there is time for a deal to be brokered before the end of the transfer market, Napoli boss Antonio Conte is in a hurry for a move to be completed so he can sign Romelu Lukaku from Chelsea.

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Conte may just get his wish, with Osimhen wavering over his decision to remain in Europe.

Outside of Chelsea and PSG, there has been interest from the Saudi Pro League, and while he was initially dismissive of moving to the Middle East, his stance appears to be changing.

Calciomercato reports that as a “prisoner of his price and also of a salary that only a few clubs in Europe can afford, a scenario that seemed rather unlikely is taking hold”.

It goes on to state: “In light of the latest developments on the PSG front, Victor Osimhen is starting to evaluate the possibility of taking into consideration the offers that may arrive from Saudi Arabia.”

Osimhen out, Lukaku in at Napoli?

The transfer market for Saudi Pro League clubs may only recently have opened, but it runs until 6 October, giving these teams a prolonged window to complete a deal.

Napoli boss Conte, though, wants Lukaku in his squad and in condition as soon as possible, which in turn means offloading Osimhen as rapidly as possibly to fund such a move.

With PSG and Chelsea apparently frozen, the Nigeria star’s prospects of moving to the Saudi Pro League appear to be growing.