“To avoid what happened” – Napoli release fresh update on Osimhen as Chelsea & Arsenal circle Nigerian star

Napoli sporting director Giovanni Manna has confirmed Victor Osimhen has a release clause in his contract, with the club eager to resolve the Nigerian striker’s future quickly amid growing interest from Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United, Soccernet.ng reports. 

Osimhen is currently on loan at Galatasaray after failing to secure a permanent move last summer, but the 25-year-old is widely expected to leave Napoli at the end of the season.

Speaking to Sky Sport Italia, Manna admitted the club is working behind the scenes to avoid a repeat of last summer’s transfer saga when no club met Osimhen’s €110m release clause.

“Victor is always going to be a hotly-debated topic and not just on the transfer market,” Manna said.

“He is an appetising player for clubs, he has a clause and everyone knows this, we are working to find a solution as quickly as possible, so that we can avoid what happened last year.”

Chelsea came close to signing Osimhen on transfer deadline day, but the deal collapsed after the Blues failed to meet the striker’s salary demands — paving the way for Galatasaray to make a surprise loan swoop for the Nigerian.

This is a good compilation of Victor Osimhen vs. some Premier League defenders.
pic.twitter.com/isdv8rX0C6

Osimhen has rediscovered his best form in Turkey, notching 25 goals and assists in all competitions, and quickly becoming a fan favourite among Galatasaray supporters. The Turkish giants have made several attempts to keep Osimhen beyond the summer, including a bid in January that was swiftly rejected.

Despite professing his love for Galatasaray, Osimhen is believed to be eyeing a move to one of Europe’s biggest clubs next. Juventus have been linked with bringing the striker back to Serie A as a replacement for Dusan Vlahovic, but the Premier League appears to be his most likely destination.

Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United, Newcastle, and Liverpool are all reportedly monitoring Osimhen’s situation — with Chelsea currently leading the race. The Blues have long admired the Nigerian forward, with African legends Mikel Obi and Didier Drogba playing key roles in convincing him to join Stamford Bridge.

However, any move will come down to finances, with Osimhen demanding no pay cut from his current Napoli salary. The striker earns around €250,000 per week before tax according to capology — a figure that only a handful of clubs can match.

With Osimhen’s release clause expected to drop to around €75m by the summer, the battle for his signature is set to intensify — with Chelsea Arsenal, and Manchester United ready to test Napoli’s resolve.