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The director of Napoli, Giovanni Manna,has disclosed that the club is “endeavoring to find a solution” for Victor Osimhen's permanent departure this summer.
According to reports from football.london, Osimhen, 26, was on the verge of a permanent exit from Naples prior to the start of the 2024/25 season; however, after an incomplete deal, he opted for a loan move to Galatasaray instead.
Since his arrival in Istanbul, the Nigerian striker has netted 20 goals in 26 appearances across all competitions.
Nevertheless, Galatasaray is not anticipated to secure Osimhen with a permanent transfer, making a move to the Premier League more likely. Both Chelsea and Arsenal have shown interest in Osimhen, who has a £90 million release clause in his contract that is valid until the summer of 2027.
While Napoli may need to lower their asking price to finalize Osimhen's sale, Manna is optimistic that a solution can be reached to facilitate his permanent transfer and avoid the complications faced last year.
“Victor will always be a topic of intense discussion, not just in the transfer market,” Manna shared with Sky Sport Italia.
“He is an attractive player for clubs, carry a release clause that everyone is aware of, and we are making efforts to find a resolution as swiftly as we can, to prevent a repeat of last year’s transfer challenges.”
Chelsea has had a sustained interest in Osimhen and may renew their pursuit as they aim to enhance their attacking options. Nicolas Jackson has been their primary No.9 for the past 18 months but has often disappointed, managing just nine goals and five assists across 23 Premier League games this season.
With Jackson now injured, the Blues lack a dependable backup. Young talent, Marc Guiu, is also out of action, which leaves Pedro Neto to spearhead the attack. It's clear that if Chelsea aspire to compete for the Premier League title, they must bolster their squad with more attacking options.
As for Arsenal, they urgently require a new center forward. They have played their last three matches without a true No.9 and have appeared ineffective in attack. Even prior to the injuries to Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus, the Gunners had a pressing need to strengthen this position, which has become even more critical now.
Osimhen has previously been associated with Arsenal and could be a viable long-term solution for them.
The former Lille striker boasts an impressive goal-scoring record throughout his career, highlighted by a remarkable 31-goal season in 2022/23, which contributed to Napoli winning the Serie A title.
