Transfer Centre

Napoli chief announces imminent Victor Osimhen contract extension despite Chelsea speculation

By Darren Plant, Senior Reporter | 02 December 2023

Napoli chief announces imminent Osimhen contract extension

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis suggests that Victor Osimhen is on the brink of signing a new contract, despite links with Chelsea.

Chelsea have seemingly been dealt a blow in their efforts to sign Napoli forward Victor Osimhen.

In his near three-and-a-half years in Naples, Osimhen has already cemented his legacy, netting 26 goals in Serie A last season as Napoli ended a wait of more than three decades to win another top-flight crown.

A total of 65 goals and 16 assists have come from 113 appearances in all competitions, but his success has not prevented speculation regarding a move elsewhere.

At a time when his contract has entered the final two years, Osimhen has been on the receiving end of two offensive Tiktok posts from the club's social media team.

Furthermore, Napoli are currently eight points adrift of leaders Inter Milan, theoretically increasing the chances of the Nigeria international entertaining a fresh challenge elsewhere.

Chelsea co-owner and chairman Todd Boehly in the stands before the match on August 13, 2023 © Reuters

Rumours have persisted that a transfer to Chelsea could be in the offing, with the Blues believed to be in the market for a new centre-forward in January.

Despite the prospect of Osimhen entering the closing 18 months of his current terms, a report indicated that Napoli has placed a £130m price tag on his services.

While that stance alone may have been enough to force Chelsea to have second thoughts over an approach, it appears that a mid-season switch will soon be out of the question.

Speaking at an event in Naples, president Aurelio De Laurentiis has claimed that Osimhen is about to sign fresh terms with the Italian giants.

Genoa's Radu Dragusin in action with Napoli's Victor Osimhen on September 16, 2023 © Reuters

De Laurentiis is quoted as saying: "With Osimhen, we are about to sign the contract that was pending this summer."

At the time, it was suggested that Osimhen had "a change of mood" by De Laurentiis, yet there was never any realistic prospect of a sale with the Napoli chief reiterating that teams would struggle to meet their valuation, believed to be as high as £150m.

Reports in Italy have suggested that the 24-year-old will have a release clause - said to be just below £130m - inserted into his new contract.

The likes of Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, who have also been linked with Osimhen, will move onto other targets if it emerges that the frontman remains with such a high asking price.