Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal target Victor Osimhen has endured a tough start to the season, between injuries, a bizarre TikTok-related incident and a shaky start to Napoli's title defence
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea target Victor Osimhen could leave Napoli, following owner Aurelio De Laurentiis hinting at a breakdown in contract talks.
It has been a difficult start to the season for the striker, with Napoli’s Serie A title defence already on shaky ground under new coach Rudi Garcia.
Osimhen has had an eventful start to 2023/24 (Image credit: Getty Images)
Just as the dust settled, the Nigerian picked up an injury while on international duty that is expected to rule him out for the next four to six weeks.
Osimhen’s future has been the subject of much speculation since he fired the Partenopei to their first Scudetto in 33 years last season, finishing as the Serie A top scorer with 26 goals.
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The 24-year-old has a deal in Naples until June 2025, but De Laurentiis’ comments on Friday suggested that an extension is not imminent.
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"I have never not been calm when it comes to Osimhen, but there are two sides with these things,” De Laurentiis said at a media conference.
Napoli won the Scudetto last season for the first time since 1990 (Image credit: CIRO FUSCO/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
“I remain the same; if his mood has changed, then there’s not much I can do about that.
“If things change after a handshake, that is disappointing, we take it into account, but life goes on.
“We have a great relationship with him, his contract runs to 2025, so there is time.”
Osimhen has scored six goals in eight Serie A games this season, but Napoli’s form has been patchy and they are fifth in the table, seven points behind leaders AC Milan.
Alasdair Mackenzie is a freelance journalist based in Rome, and a FourFourTwo contributor since 2015. When not pulling on the FFT shirt, he can be found at Reuters, The Times and the i. An Italophile since growing up on a diet of Football Italia on Channel 4, he now counts himself among thousands of fans sharing a passion for Ross County and Lazio.
