Victor Osimhen’s future at Napoli remains uncertain as Paris Saint-Germain appear to be moving further away from securing the Nigerian striker. With a hefty salary of €12 million net per season and a total cost of €31 million gross until June 2026, Osimhen’s situation heavily influences Napoli’s transfer activities. Resolving his status is crucial for the club’s plans, including the potential acquisition of Romelu Lukaku for the attack, as indicated by coach Antonio Conte.
Calciomercato outline how PSG have found the €130 million release clause for Osimhen too steep, especially since they need to offload players like Gonçalo Ramos or Kolo Muani first. Additionally, PSG’s offer did not include South Korean playmaker Kang-in Lee as part of the deal, which Napoli did not accept.
Osimhen has not received concrete offers from Premier League clubs like Arsenal and Chelsea, despite his preference for the league. This lack of movement has left him in a difficult position, bound by his high price and salary demands that few European clubs can meet. Consequently, Osimhen is now considering offers from Saudi Arabia, a scenario that seemed unlikely until recently.
About a year ago, Osimhen firmly rejected lucrative offers from the Saudi Pro League. However, the current stalemate has prompted a reconsideration. The Saudi transfer window remains open until October 6th, but Napoli and Osimhen are looking for a quicker resolution. Conte has long identified Lukaku as Osimhen’s natural replacement, and with Serie A starting on the weekend of August 16-18, there is an urgency to finalize these moves. Lukaku, currently priced at no less than €35 million by Chelsea, needs ample preparation time to reach peak physical condition, making a swift resolution essential for Napoli’s plans.
