Napoli are set to link striker Victor Osimhen to a 12-month contract extension to fend off Premier League interest.
Arsenal and Chelsea have been keeping an eye on the 24-year-old Nigerian striker, who has scored seven goals in Serie A this season. He scored a league-leading 26 goals last season as Napoli ended its long wait for a first name in the league since the days. by Diego Maradona.
Osimhen’s contract expires in 2025 and talks on a new deal, which will include a €130 million (£112 million) release clause, have dragged on for months. But club president Aurelio De Laurentiis told Corriere dello Sport: “We are close to reaching an agreement. “
Osimhen was Napoli’s star last season, scoring 31 goals in all competitions as the team won its first Scudetto since 1990 and reached the quarterfinals of the Champions League. However, things have been more complicated this season, after coach Luciano Spalletti left to take charge of the Italian national team.
Spalletti’s successor Rudi Garcia only lasted until November, at which point he was dismissed and replaced by Walter Mazzarri. It’s a second spell in charge for veteran boss Mazzarri, who was also in the dugout for the 2011-12 Champions League campaign when Napoli fell to eventual champions Chelsea.
After 16 games, Napoli is fifth, about 14 adrift of league leader Internazionale. However, they managed to make it past the Champions League round of 16, with Osimhen and his teammates set to face Barcelona in the round of 16.
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Arsenal and Chelsea face other disruptions in attack. The Gunners are among the most level-headed goalscorers in the Premier League, but they are missing a prolific number nine despite Gabriel Jesus’ impressive overall paints.
Meanwhile, Chelsea continue to face questions early on despite spending heavily on the pitch. Summer signing Chris, the more level-headed, Nkunku has just returned to action after suffering an injury in pre-season, while top scorer Nicolas Jackson has been missed. A couple of high-profile chances any of his seven league goals.
“Football is about scoring goals and we weren’t precise in front of goal,” manager Mauricio Pochettino said in the match of the day after his team’s Premier League defeat to Everton. “I’m disappointed. We didn’t get the point we deserved. I think we were older but we didn’t get what we wanted.
“It was a play-and-win game. This is a factor we want to look at. We have to look at reality. We need to communicate and check the next market move. “
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