Romano confirms Osimhen BOMB! Blockbuster deal OFF over 'impossible' demand

Tom Weber

Updated: 22 Jul 2024 15:22 CDT
4 min read

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

Fabrizio Romano has confirmed reports from France that Victor Osimhen's move to PSG is currently on hold.

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The Nigerian's transfer saga has taken another huge twist. It seemed as though Osimhen would at last get his big move away from Napoli in the coming days after giving the green light to a blockbuster transfer to PSG.

Osimhen had pretty much agreed terms and was keen on the move despite dreaming of playing in the Premier League. However, negotiations between PSG and Napoli have proved to be anything but easy.

With Napoli keen to shift Osimhen due to his massive wages and due to their willingness to spend big this summer, it was thought that the Serie A side were prepared to budge from their hardline stance that interested clubs must pay his €120 million to €130m release clause.

However, according to L'Equipe journalist Loic Tanzi and Fabrizio Romano, Napoli's demands are now a major sticking point.

Osimhen deal on hold and potentially off

Earlier on Monday, Tanzi revealed on X that talks between PSG and Napoli had come to a standstill, though talks continued behind the scenes to find a solution.

The reason cited by the journalist was that neither Goncalo Ramos nor Randal Kolo Muani were close to leaving PSG and thus freeing up funds and room in the squad. As a result, Osimhen had even privately discussed the possibility of remaining at Napoli with his camp.

Now, Fabrizio Romano has provided more information on the situation, going a step further than Tanzi and stating that the deal is currently 'on standby' and potentially 'off' due to Napoli's demands.

"Over the weekend and especially in the last 24 hours," Romano said on his YouTube channel, "Napoli wanted to include Lee Kang-in as part of the deal. For PSG: impossible, no way, [he's a] really important player. So, PSG said no to Lee Kang-in being involved in the deal."

"So, no agreement between clubs. Napoli started asking again for the value of the release clause, €120m, €130m. PSG will not pay that money. So, PSG said no to paying the release clause. In case it was an open deal with different conditions, PSG were open."

"Now, the deal is currently on standby and could be off because there is a big gap in valuation...Deal currently stopped because negotiations can't advance like this."

This, of course, also massively influences Chelsea's summer business, with Napoli having made Romelu Lukaku their top priority to replace Osimhen. The Belgian is waiting to join the 2023 Serie A champions and desperately wants to link up with Antonio Conte again.