Premier League clubs ready to battle for Napoli’s Victor Osimhen

Premier League clubs are racing to sign Napoli’s star striker Victor Osimhen after comments from the Napoli owner De Laurentiis this week.

Napoli owner Aurelio de Laurentiis revealed this week a major bombshell about his teams’ star striker Victor Osimhen. The 74-year-old Italian disclosed to the media after a meeting among Serie A executives last week that Osimhen wanted to go last season and that it’s almost certain he leaves this summer. 

De Laurentiis named Real Madrid, PSG, and an unnamed “English team” as the most likely destination for Osimhen. 

This news has reportedly lit the flame for what is set to be an all out bidding war between Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal, and potentially other top Premier League clubs once the 2023-24 Premier League season is over.

De Laurentiis says Osimhen will go

Aurelio de Laurentiis is known as one of the most shrewd businessmen and negotiators in the world when it comes to transfers and renewing player contracts. Several Napoli players have perennially been linked to top clubs around Europe only for them to never leave because De Laurentiis held firm on his asking price. 

Former Napoli captain Kalidou Koulibaly is a notable example of a player De Laurentiis refused to let leave from Naples. After 18 months of speculation and rumours but no move, many thought Victor Osimhen would be the next player who was forced to see out their contract by De Laurentiis. 

We now know that this is not the case. Why? Because De Laurentiis told us so. 

The controversial club owner spoke to Italian media after a Serie A club owners meeting. De Laurentiis revealed that he “knew” Victor Osimhen was going to leave in 2024, so he and the player made it a priority to sign a new contract. De Laurentiis also gave some insight on who might be signing his star striker. 

“We knew that [Osimhen would leave] since last summer,” explained the Napoli boss. “That's why the contract negotiations were so drawn out and amicable... but we knew perfectly well that he would go Real Madrid, to PSG or to a English team.”

Osimhen signed a new Napoli contract in December which reportedly contains a €130m release clause. 

What Osimhen has said

Victor Osimhen has also been speaking to the press recently. Last Tuesday, he spoke to CBS Sports in the US, saying 

“I'm with Napoli, I signed a new contract. I'm enjoying my time there. I think I've already made up my mind, I already know what I want to do in my career.”

"Since I've started, I've been the one making my own decisions and everything is working out well for me. I already know the next step I want to take, so for now I just want to finish the season strong."

Many have interpreted these comments as Osimhen being ready to leave Napoli in the 2024 offseason. 

Top Victor Osimhen transfer rumours

If Osimhen does go, where will he go? According to the betting sites, there is one obvious answer: Chelsea. 

The Blues have the cash and are willing to spend it. Osimhen has also spoken about his admiration for Chelsea as he was a fan of the club as a child. 

Manchester United are also major contenders for Osimhen’s signature as there is a belief that Sir Jim Ratcliffe may want to make a huge signing to start off his tenure as the head of Man United’s football operations. 

Arsenal and Liverpool are seen as outsiders who might enter the race should something change with their current squads. Spurs apparently viewed Osimhen as an option to replace Harry Kane, but he may be too expensive. Whatever the case, the Osimhen transfer saga is looking to be one of the most exciting in recent memory.