Osimhen, Kane, Mbappe – the Intertwined Transfer Saga

Osimhen, Kane, Mbappe – the Intertwined Transfer Saga
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Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen and Serie A champions Napoli are no longer in contract extension talks because they expect transfer bids for the Super Eagle.

The Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers 2023 top scorer is one of the main protagonists of the summer 2023 transfer news covered by the media, including in Nigeria. The 24-year-old is wanted by a host of teams including Paris Saint-German and Chelsea.

Manchester United and Bayern Munich have also been linked with his signature. Napoli’s valuation of Osimhen is a possible stifling point for potential clubs, but new reports claim they are expecting progress on that soon.

Napoli want £180 million for Osimhen; expecting PSG to call in soon

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has made it clear that if his prized asset leaves the club after winning the Scudetto and the Capocannoniere, it will not be for cheap. This was a U-Turn on his stance during the title celebrations when he said an emphatic “No” to the possibility of the Super Eagles striker leaving the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium in the summer of 2023.

The club’s former £100 million valuation of Osimhen jumped to £150 million, and then to £180 million after Osimhen’s achievements in the 2022/23 Italian top-flight season. The IFFHS also doubled down on the valuation, naming the AFCON 2023 golden boot hopeful as Africa’s most valuable footballer, even though their valuation is just more than half of Napoli’s.

Reports then emerged of Napoli engaging Osimhen, who won the Nigerian fans' Player of the Year award, in contract extension talks which would see him remain at the club until 2028, two years after his current contract was supposed to expire.

The new contract would also see him earn more than double his current salary, which is reportedly around £90,000 a week.

Gazzetta dello Sport now reports that both parties have paused the discussions because they have received a tip that PSG are looking to present a bid that would interest them.

The report reads, “We are in a waiting phase. The very high demand [from] De Laurentiis, over 180 million, has somewhat frightened the suitors who are developing strategies and also evaluating alternatives. Like Bayern who are trying to find an agreement with Tottenham for the purchase of Harry Kane.

“The English centre-forward with Mbappé and the Napoli scorer are a bit like the three that are influencing the market.”

Kane, Mbappe, Osimhen to cause storm in the transfer market

The Serie A striker of the year for the 2022/23 season is not just one of the best players in football right now, but one of the most sought-after players.

The publication further reports that alongside Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe, who are also protagonists of the transfer news scene this European summer, Osimhen’s potential move to another club could trigger a ‘domino’ effect in the transfer market.

Osimhen is currently holidaying in Lagos, Nigeria, where he grew up, but his achievements are cooking up a storm in the European football transfer market.

The report adds: “Because if Mbappe ends up betrothed, going to Real [Madrid], PSG would have to raise its offer for Osimhen, after De Laurentiis's refusal of one hundred million. At the same time, if Bayern closed for Kane, Manchester United would come back into play, as they are solving some internal problems before going wild on the market and aiming for Kane.

“Just as Liverpool remain vigilant and Bayern Munich themselves, if they didn't get to Kane, would have to somehow find a solution after an unsatisfactory year without a centre forward.”

This article was most recently revised and updated 1 year ago

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