Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis has made a bold claim, stating that only Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) can afford to sign Victor Osimhen this summer.
De Laurentiis has slapped an eye-watering price tag of €200 million on the Nigerian striker, effectively ruling out any potential move to Manchester United.
De Laurentiis expressed his stance in an interview with Sport Mediaset, saying, “The only club that can afford to take Osimhen away from us is Paris Saint-Germain. So if Nasser Al-Khelaifi wants to shell out around €200 million, then we will wait and evaluate.”
Manchester United had identified Osimhen as one of their top striker targets for the summer, alongside Harry Kane.
However, the financial demands surrounding both players now seem beyond the reach of the Manchester club, with Tottenham Hotspur also demanding a significant sum for Kane.
Meanwhile, Napoli is actively engaged in contract negotiations with Osimhen. According to Nicolo Schira, the Italian club has offered the 22-year-old forward a contract extension until 2027, which includes a substantial salary increase to €6.5 million per season plus bonuses.
The new contract may also feature a minimum fee release clause, though it would only become valid in July 2024.
Osimhen had an outstanding 2022-23 season, scoring an impressive 31 goals in 39 appearances across all competitions. His 26 Serie A goals made him the league’s top scorer, helping Napoli secure their first Scudetto in 33 years.
The Nigerian striker also found the net five times in the UEFA Champions League, guiding Napoli to the quarter-finals before ultimately losing to AC Milan on aggregate.
Osimhen’s absence due to injury in the first leg of the quarter-final tie has been cited as a significant factor in Napoli’s ultimate defeat.
The striker’s impact and prolific scoring ability have garnered attention from top clubs across Europe, further fueling speculation about his future.
De Laurentiis also revealed that the club is open to selling Osimhen this summer, but only if they receive a “more than indecent proposal.”
Osimhen’s previous transfer from Lille to Napoli already broke club records, with the fee potentially reaching €80 million.
Chelsea has long been linked with the Nigerian forward, intensifying their scouting efforts since last autumn.
Manchester United and Real Madrid have also shown interest, with the latter seeking a replacement for the departed Karim Benzema.
However, De Laurentiis is known for his tough negotiating tactics, as demonstrated in previous high-profile transfers involving Napoli.
The club extracted €90 million from Juventus for Gonzalo Higuain in 2016, sold Edinson Cavani for €64 million, and successfully fended off interest in Kalidou Koulibaly until his value peaked.
While De Laurentiis remains confident that Osimhen will stay at Napoli for the upcoming season, he has not completely ruled out a potential sale.
He stated, “We will see Victor Osimhen wearing our shirt next season, that’s for sure. Then if a more than indecent proposal arrives, we will move on and find another top talent, as we did with Kvaratskhelia and Osimhen.”
However, any proposal deemed too enticing to reject would likely require Osimhen to become one of the most expensive players in history.
Napoli values the 24-year-old at €150 million, a sum only surpassed by a select few, including Kylian Mbappe and Neymar.
Osimhen himself has expressed his contentment at Napoli, declaring, “I am so happy I made the right choice by coming here.
Achieving greatness with the Neapolitans is something that will always bring a smile to my face.” As the transfer window progresses, it remains to be seen if any club will meet Napoli’s asking price for the talented Nigerian forward.
