Napoli sets deadline as Victor Osimhen transfer saga intensifies with Chelsea, Man United, and Galatasaray in the mix. Napoli has placed a ticking clock on Victor Osimhen’s future. They are demanding clubs to activate his €75 million (£64 million) release clause before it expires on July 15. The Serie A champions have informed the Nigerian striker who is currently on holiday that he will return for medical tests on July 14 or 15. But, nonetheless, he has no future at the club. A permanent sale is now their priority.
Chelsea remain on “transfer red alert” for Osimhen, but their path is fraught with complications:
Manchester United has emerged as a dark horse, leveraging Osimhen’s reported attraction to the club’s “burning magnetism.” Manager Ruben Amorim seeks an elite striker, and Osimhen’s 37 goals for Galatasaray last season make him a prime target. However, United’s financial constraints and his £200k+ weekly wages pose hurdles.
Victor Osimhen’s €75m release clause is only active for two more weeks, according to @Gazzetta_it ⌛ pic.twitter.com/5D4HtUVEdg
Galatasaray remains determined to retain him, ready to pay the clause “without batting an eyelid.” Yet, Osimhen rejected their offer, prioritizing a Premier League move despite Saudi Arabia’s €40m/year bid from Al-Hilal.
Napoli sets deadline in urgency that stems from financial necessity. Missing Champions League revenue, they aim to balance books while rebuilding under Antonio Conte. Osimhen’s sale funds targets like Liverpool’s Darwin Núñez. For suitors, the 26-year-old represents a rare, proven goalscorer. Former Nigeria assistant coach Acácio Santos told *Sky Sports*: “Victor deserves the Premier League… He’s a leader through example”.
The arrival of Jonathan David does not exclude Victor Osimhen’s transfer this summer. The Canadian is a free transfer, so Juventus only have to pay his salary and there’s not transfer fee!
Juventus have to sort out the Vlahovic situation before moving for Osimhen, with July… pic.twitter.com/UBZwDGFJYf
Victor Osimhen’s future is still very much up in the air, with a huge July 15 deadline looming (Napoli’s deadline for the £64 million release clause). Chelsea, his old time suitor, have several issues to contend with. First, the release clause needs to be paid. This means that Chelsea must sell players like Romelu Lukaku or Christopher Nkunku in order to comply with Financial Fair Play. After that, Osimhen seeks a staggering £500,000 a week salary. This is in stark contrast to Chelsea’s usual last minute performance based structure. Also, while a complicated swap of Lukaku plus £39 million, plus Cesare Casadei has been mooted. Moreover, Napoli would prefer a cash sale.
Ultimately, Osimhen’s decision to either agree to performance-related terms at Chelsea, wait for United’s nebulous progression. Nevertheless, this will begrudgingly entertain Galatasaray who will have significant implications for the forward market. For example, with Osimhen with an indication, Liverpool’s Darwin Núñez could likely become a possible target for Napoli. This will occur only if Napoli are able to broke any transfer for Osimhen. As a further example, this complicated stalemate illustrates the friction in the modern transfer market between player ambition, and club financials, and strict timelines.
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