Napoli ‘set timeline’ to sort out Osimhen’s future

Napoli ‘set timeline’ to sort out Osimhen’s future

Napoli has reportedly given a timeline for when it want Victor Osimhen’s future to be sorted amid talks with Chelsea.

HITC had reported that Chelsea was in talks with Napoli for Osimhen with the Nigerian striker potentially being one of the biggest deals in the Premier League.

The Nigerian moving to Stamford Bridge could potentially see Romelu Lukaku, who moved to Chelsea for £95 million from Inter Milan, move to Naples.

HITC had reported that Lukaku was keen on a move to Napoli with the possibility of the Belgian reuniting with Antonio Conte said to appeal to the striker.

The Nigerian forward, since his superb goalscoring season during the Scudetto-winning 2022/23 campaign, has been linked with a move away from the club for a long time.

Osimhen has been ‘anxious’ about his Napoli exit as the Nigerian forward was concerned that he would not be able to get his move away from the Italian club.

Chelsea had earmarked Osimhen as number one target and there is hope from those at the club that a deal will end up being struck.

Italian journalist, Giovanni Scotto, speaking to CalcioNapoli, has explained when Napoli want a deal done for the forward.

“As of today, there are no openings for Osimhen to remain at Napoli. The will to separate is mutual and remains the same, nor obviously has Conte asked to change the agreements.

“There are no clauses or tacit agreements for a confirmation, much less a hypothesis with a lowered salary.

“Conte will also wait patiently for the operation to go through, with Lukaku waiting without looking around. The goal is to resolve the issue by the first match of the championship. In any case, the Nigerian will not be used, not even in the Coppa Italia.

“Clearly, anything can happen but for now Osimhen remains on the way out: his preferences include PSG and Chelsea, Saudi Arabia is currently only a hypothetical scenario. In any case, it will be the striker who chooses his next team.”

A new striker has been key for Chelsea this summer but the Blues have already completed the signing of one striker.

Chelsea signed Barcelona’s Marc Guiu earlier this summer but the plan from those at the club was to add another forward.

Osimhen would represent a significant upgrade for Chelsea and he could well be good enough to challenge Erling Haaland’s goalscoring abilities in the Premier League.

Chelsea’s Enzo Maresca has heaped praise on his versatile attacker that he admitted that he ‘loves’ with the season two weeks away.

Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea has been one of the more busier sides in the summer transfer window with the former Leicester City manager embarking on his first full season at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea has signed Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Marc Guiu, Tosin Adarabioyo, and Filip Jorgensen. The Blues could well be set to add to these numbers in the weeks ahead.

HITC has reported that Chelsea is in talks with Napoli’s Victor Osimhen which would mean a potential swap involving Romelu Lukaku moving the other way.

However, Maresca has been keen to praise one of his forwards during pre-season.