Transfer Centre

Victor Osimhen agent denies Paris Saint-Germain contact

By Oliver Thomas, Senior Reporter | 27 April 2023

The entourage of Napoli striker Victor Osimhen play down claims that there has been contact with Paris Saint-Germain over a proposed summer move.

The entourage of Napoli striker Victor Osimhen have played down claims that there has been contact with Paris Saint-Germain over a proposed summer move.

The 24-year-old is set to become one of the most sought-after strikers in Europe when the summer transfer window opens following an impressive 2022-23 campaign in front of goal.

Osimhen is leading the race for the Serie A Golden Boot having scored 21 goals in 25 league games, and has been a been one of the standout performers in helping champions-elect Napoli move 17 points clear at the top of the table.

The Nigeria international has scored a total of 54 goals and has provided 14 assists in 94 appearances for the Parthenopeans since joining the club from Ligue 1 outfit Lille in the summer of 2020.

Osimhen is under contract at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium until June 2025, but speculation over his long-term future is rife amid interest from a number of top European clubs.

Napoli's Victor Osimhen applauds fans after the match on March 3, 2023 © Reuters

A recent report claimed that Manchester United have moved ahead of Chelsea in the race to sign Osimhen this summer, with the Red Devils said to have sent scouts to watch the striker throughout this season.

However, French champions PSG have also been strongly linked with Osimhen, with reports claiming that football advisor Luis Campos – who helped sign the Nigerian during his time at Lille – is keen to lure him to the Parc des Princes.

Talks between Campos and Osimhen's representatives were allegedly scheduled to take place during last month's international break to discuss a possible transfer to PSG.

However, the striker's entourage have insisted that the rumours are "false" and that no contact has been made between himself and the Parisian giants.

"Everything that is being said is false," Osimhen's representatives told Mundo Deportivo, via Culture PSG. "It's early to talk about the transfer window. A lot of people are trying to destabilize at this point. There is nothing."

Victor Osimhen in action for Napoli on September 7, 2022 © Reuters

Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentiis affirmed earlier this year that Osimhen is "not for sale", while the striker himself has expressed his happiness to represent the Italian side.

PSG have been tipped to recruit a new attacker ahead of the 2023-24 campaign amid uncertainty over the long-term futures of star trio Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, particularly the former.

Messi, 35, is out of contract in the summer and has been heavily linked with a return to La Liga leaders Barcelona.

However, it remains to be seen whether the cash-strapped Catalan giants can afford to recruit Messi or any other transfer targets due to their well-documented financial troubles.

Neymar, meanwhile, has recently been linked with Premier League duo Man United and Chelsea, while Mbappe is understood to still have admirers at Real Madrid.