'Really concrete' - Romano gives Arsenal and Chelsea exciting Osimhen update

Tom Weber

5 Dec 2023 10:48 CST
3 min read

Victor Osimhen, Arsenal, Chelsea — © ProShots

Fabrizio Romano is not so sure that Victor Osimhen will sign a new Napoli contract.

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The reigning Serie A champions' president Aurelio de Laurentiis made waves last week by claiming that the Nigerian superstar was "at the signing stage" of his new and improved contract meant to fend off interest from clubs, including from Arsenal and Chelsea.

Napoli have been in talks with Osimhen since the summer, but their poor form this season and off-field controversy have seen the relationship between the two parties sour and negotiations have stalled in recent times. De Laurentiis' statement went against what had been reported in the media where rumours of an Osimhen exit in 2024 had grown louder.

Indeed, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano believes that De Laurentiis' comments were a mere PR exercise and that the 24-year-old is no closer to signing a new deal with Napoli than he was in the summer.

Bad news for Arsenal and Chelsea! 👀 pic.twitter.com/grvneoH43H

— Football Transfers (@Transfersdotcom) December 2, 2023

What did Romano say?

Speaking to CaughtOffside, the Italian said: “I’m not sure they are that close to signing a new deal. Napoli like to use the media to put some pressure – they are trying with the best proposal of their history, higher than the likes of [Edinson] Cavani or [Gonzalo] Higuain had in recent years.”

“But from what I’m hearing, there is no full agreement. It’s not a done deal. I think the opportunity for Osimhen to leave in summer 2024 remains really concrete. I don’t think January is realistic, but there could be a summer move.”

This is obviously good news for Arsenal and Chelsea who appeared to have had their hopes of landing the striker dashed as a new deal would have given Napoli a strong position in any potential negotiations. As things stand, however, and with a new deal seemingly not on the horizon, the Italians will likely have to sell in the summer as his contract is up in 2025.