Super Eagles’ star striker Victor Osimhen is set to resume pre-season training with Napoli next week, as no formal transfer offers have materialized despite summer speculation.
According to Football Italia, new Napoli coach Antonio Conte may meet Osimhen in Castel Volturno next week, as no European club has made a formal bid for the striker. Although the Nigeria international has a €130 million release clause in his contract, rumored interest from Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester United has yet to result in an official offer.
Clubs appear reluctant to meet the €130 million price tag, and even if Napoli were to lower the asking price to €100 million, finding a suitable buyer remains challenging.
Conte is open to parting with Osimhen, but if no offers come in over the next few days, the striker will join Napoli for pre-season training on Thursday, July 11, 2024.
At his unveiling as Napoli’s new manager, the 54-year-old Conte described Osimhen as “a top player” but acknowledged the complexity of the situation. “I know very well about the Osimhen situation,” Conte said. “I know that there are agreements with the club; it’s a totally different situation, which I’ll witness. Then if you ask me about the player, he’s a top player, but I can’t get into any discussions about Osimhen because these are previous agreements.”
Italian tabloid Il Corriere dello Sport reported that the Premier League trio of Chelsea, Arsenal, and Manchester United have put transfer talks for Osimhen on hold for now.
