Transfer Centre

Napoli president opens door to Victor Osimhen exit

By Darren Plant, Senior Reporter | 20 June 2023

Napoli president opens door to Osimhen exit

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis seemingly opens the door to the Italian champions cashing in on Victor Osimhen during the summer transfer window.

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has insisted that he is open to selling Victor Osimhen this summer.

The forward has just played a key role in guiding Napoli to their first Serie A title for more than three decades, contributing 26 goals and four assists from his 32 appearances.

With the Naples-based outfit keen to build on that success during 2023-24, they naturally want to retain the services of the Nigeria international for as long as possible.

However, at a time when Osimhen has just over two years remaining on his contract, there are an increasingly amount of admirers who are keen on signing the 24-year-old.

Manchester United and Bayern Munich are allegedly both contemplating an approach for Osimhen, Chelsea potentially less so now that they are bidding to sign Villarreal's Nicolas Jackson.

Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag on May 7, 2023 © Reuters

Although Real Madrid may still be toying with an approach for the player, Los Blancos have just signed Joselu and continue to be linked with Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappe.

If PSG are able to generate their desired fee for Mbappe, the Ligue 1 champions would also be in the market for a new frontman with Osimhen an obvious possibility.

On Monday, Napoli officially unveiled Rudi Garcia as their new boss, a result of Luciano Spalletti opting to take a sabbatical, and that topic of Osimhen's future came up during the media briefing.

Speaking to reporters, De Laurentiis said: "We already talked to Osimhen before the Scudetto celebration, so we already have a basic agreement on a two-year extension of his contract.

Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis attends the press conference on March 22, 2023 © Reuters

"I have said for a while that Osimhen has to stay. Then, if an offer came in that I could not refuse for the good of Napoli, then we would consider it, as is only natural."

Osimhen, who has spent three years at Napoli, has already recently acknowledged that his 'dream' is to eventually play in the Premier League.

Napoli will look to recoup at least £100m for their most prized asset, a consequence of the striker costing in the region of €80m back in 2020.

With Man United looking increasingly likely to miss out on Tottenham Hotspur forward Harry Kane, the Red Devils may consider meeting such a valuation with Wout Weghorst returning to Burnley and Anthony Martial expected to be on the way out of Old Trafford.