Napoli are adamant about keeping Victor Osimhen at the club this summer after his enormous success at the club, and have slapped a very high asking price for him. According to latest reports, Napoli are set to demand £150 million for their top striker this summer as Manchester United and Chelsea vie for his services.
One of the most sought-after attackers in Europe, Osimhen has drawn attention with his skillful performances, scoring 25 goals for Naples and helping them move 19 points clear at the top of Serie A. After his stellar season, Napoli expects to receive a barrage of bids for the 24-year-old. To prepare for the potential offers, Napoli have placed a hefty price tag on the Nigerian, according to Il Mattino.
No talks under £150m price tag for Victor Osimhen – Napoli make stance clear
Napoli are under no obligation to part ways with Victor Osimhen this summer, since his current deal runs through the summer of 2025 with the club. The report from Il Mattino adds Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis is uninterested to meet with any club that offers even a penny less than their £150 million asking price for Osimhen. It is being claimed that the Nigerian would be interested in joining United, who have prioritised acquiring a new striker this summer,
However, Old Trafford executives might be turned off by the eye-watering fee Napoli are demanding, the report continues. United boss Erik ten Hag is desperate for extra firepower to put his squad within striking distance of the only two teams competing for the Premier League title this season – Arsenal and Manchester City.
United are also interested in Harry Kane, but they have previously been warned that he will cost them £100 million this summer since his contract with Tottenham runs out in 2024. According to The Times, Spurs would also refuse any attempt by United to pay the cash for Kane in installments since they want to keep Kane and try to persuade him to sign a new contract despite the team’s dismal season.
Kane would still be less expensive than Osimhen, though United are also interested in Benjamin Sesko of RB Salzburg. Although RB Leipzig and the Slovenian star have officially agreed to a transfer, United might yet scuttle the deal. Osimhen has also been closely associated with Chelsea. The Blues have spent a stunning £600 million on new players this season under new owner Todd Boehly, but they still lack a reliable goalscorer as Joao Felix and Kai Havertz struggle to score consistently.
According to recent reports from the Italian website Calciomercato, the Blues have determined that Osimhen has ‘the proper profile’ for the team, and Boehly was prepared to make an offer of money and Christian Pulisic in exchange. Napoli lost a significant number of its key players throughout the course of the previous summer, including Kalidou Koulibaly, Fabian Ruiz, Lorenzo Insigne, and Dries Mertens.
Insigne and Mertens are second and first on the club’s list of highest-ever goal scorers and third and fourth on the list of most appearances made in club history, respectively. Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, whose recent goal against Atalanta demonstrated why he has been dubbed ‘Kvaradona,’ are driving the charge to the top of the Serie A table despite those departures. However, they too have developed heavy interest from the Europe’s elites and could depart the club in big money moves.