French Giants Look to Bolster Attack Following Mbappe’s Departure to Real Madrid
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) are reportedly growing “increasingly confident” of securing an £84 million (€100 million) deal to sign Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen from Napoli. The move comes amid interest from Chelsea and Arsenal, both of which had shown keen interest in bolstering their attacking options with the 25-year-old striker.
With Kylian Mbappe’s recent transfer to Real Madrid, PSG has freed up funds and is actively looking to strengthen their attacking lineup. According to Italian outlet SPORT Mediaset, the deal for Osimhen is “near a turning point,” with the player’s agent, Roberto Calenda, having flown to Paris to negotiate directly with PSG.
The report indicates that Calenda’s trip to the French capital has “yielded very positive results,” potentially dealing a significant blow to Chelsea and Arsenal’s hopes of acquiring the striker. SPORT Mediaset adds, “After the market summit, the French club has decided to close the deal, satisfying both Napoli and the player.”
Napoli’s owner, Aurelio De Laurentiis, had initially set a price tag of around £109 million on Osimhen. However, PSG’s lower offer is reportedly “still capable of unblocking the deal.” Osimhen, who signed a contract extension with Napoli in 2023 to stay until 2026, has been a key player for the Serie A side since his arrival from Lille in 2020.
Throughout his tenure at Napoli, Osimhen has scored an impressive 76 goals in 133 appearances across all competitions. His contributions were pivotal in helping Napoli clinch the Serie A title during the 2022-23 season, where he netted 26 goals.
In an interview with CBS Sports back in January, Osimhen revealed that he had “already made” a decision about his future, sparking interest from top clubs across Europe’s major leagues. He also expressed his admiration for the Premier League, calling it “one of the biggest and best leagues in the world.”
Meanwhile, De Laurentiis is eager to finalize Osimhen’s transfer “as soon as possible,” according to SPORT Mediaset, to enable Napoli to pursue Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku. Lukaku, who spent the 2023-24 season on loan at Roma, is available for a fee between £21 million and £25 million (€25 million-€30 million). The 31-year-old Belgian scored 13 goals in 32 Serie A appearances last season, along with seven goals in the Europa League.
As the transfer window heats up, PSG’s pursuit of Osimhen marks a significant move in their efforts to rebuild and enhance their squad following Mbappe’s high-profile exit.
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