Chelsea and Arsenal benefit as Osimhen’s valuation is reduced; exchange possible when Conte selects a successor.
According to sources, Chelsea and Arsenal have received a boost as Napoli reduced their asking price for Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen.
The 25-year-old has emerged as one of the top strikers playing in Europe over the last few seasons.
Osimhen was extensively linked with a move overseas after scoring 26 goals in 32 appearances to help Napoli win the Serie A title in 2022-23.
He did not receive a transfer since Napoli priced him out, and last season he extended his contract until 2026.
Although Napoli’s 2023/24 season was disappointing, Osimhen continued to excel, scoring 15 goals in 25 Serie A games.
Osimhen expressed his wish to leave Napoli this summer, citing interest from Arsenal and Chelsea.
He stated: “At the end of the season, I think I already made up my mind. I already know what I wanna do with my career, since I’ve started, I’ve been the one making my own decisions and everything is working out well for me.
“Even though when I started it, it didn’t go as well as planned. But I already have my plan, I already know what I want to do, the next step I want to take.”
Arsenal and Chelsea are in the market for a new forward this summer and are known to be fans of Osimhen, but his massive release clause – estimated to be worth more than £120 million – is proving to be a stumbling block.
However, according to rumors in Italy, Napoli has been forced to lower their asking price for Osimhen.
It is reported that Napoli initially demanded 150 million euros (£126 million) for Osimhen, but Chelsea ‘never started negotiations’ and ‘at now, there are no solid bids’ for the forward.
This has prompted Napoli to reconsider, with the source suggesting they are ‘ready to assess hypothetical bids of 100 million euros’.
A swap deal between Chelsea and Napoli might be agreed, as new manager Antonio Conte ‘only’ wants Romelu Lukaku.
According to the source, ‘In Conte’s mind, there is only Lukaku. The coach still wants his student to entrust him with the keys to the attack. A desire that may go unmet because, without selling Osimhen, the club will not try to sign the Belgian striker.