Speculation over the future of Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has set tongues wagging in the football world, particularly in Nigeria, as his potential move away from Napoli dominates headlines.
Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has dropped a bombshell, acknowledging that he may not be able to prevent Osimhen from leaving the club this summer.
De Laurentiis confirmed that the 25-year-old striker has a release clause in his contract, signalling a possible exit from Italy, with England emerging as a likely destination.
In December, Osimhen inked a contract extension with Napoli, tying him to the club until June 2026. However, De Laurentiis's confirmation about the release clause adds fuel to the transfer rumours surrounding the prolific forward.
Napoli extension won't stop Osimhen transfer
“Osimhen is another gem in Napoli's crown,” De Laurentiis remarked during an interview with Sky Sports at the Financial Times' Business of Football Summit in London.
“But you cannot hinder players, especially when they have a set price tag for their acquisition.
“Victor is another good player that Napoli have. We had [Edinson] Cavani, [Gonzalo] Higuain, [Ezequiel] Lavezzi and we had [Dries] Mertens, we had a lot of people who were fantastic.
“And there are others who are attracted by Real Madrid, by Paris Saint-Germain, by Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea.
“So you cannot stop them, especially when they have a fixed amount of money where they can be bought.
“Osimhen is a very great player — but you know Napoli is a fantastic place. There are certain players who fell in love with Napoli and stayed, like [Marek] Hamsik for 11 years. Or like others for eight years.
“He has a release clause. It’s a very big amount of money. Who knows who will leave, we will see.
“The money is the last problem for Napoli. We always made very good acquisitions as we did in the past. We will do [so] in the future.
“The problem is just sentimental problems. When you see a player leave, it’s like a son. You are also happy if this son has fantastic success everywhere else.”
Amidst talks of Osimhen's potential departure, reports have emerged linking him to PSG as a possible replacement for Kylian Mbappe, who is set to join Real Madrid next summer.
Mbappe to Real Madrid, Osimhen transfer to PSG?
PSG, eyeing a successor for Mbappe, has reportedly placed Osimhen high on their list of targets.
Osimhen's impressive track record at Napoli, where he has netted 72 goals in 122 appearances since his arrival from Lille in 2020, has only heightened interest in his services.
This season alone, he has found the back of the net 11 times in just 15 Serie A matches, further solidifying his status as one of Africa's most promising talents.
He scored a brilliant hattrick in Napoli's last Serie A game at Sassoulo in a comprehensive 6-1 away win to boost his profile further ahead of the summer transfer window.
