Osimhen hands Napoli transfer request amid PSG, Chelsea speculations

Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen has reportedly handed in a transfer request to Napoli, signalling his desire to leave the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium this summer.

Osimhen rose to stardom after topping Serie A’s scoring charts with a staggering 26 goals during Napoli’s title-winning campaign in 2022/23. He had already established himself as a valuable asset for the Partenopei.

Despite injuries hindering his performance, Osimhen managed an impressive 17 goals across all competitions in the 2023/24 season.

Napoli confirmed Osimhen’s desire to leave, adding that he has formally requested a transfer. The news comes amid ongoing speculation about his next destination. Osimhen was absent from Napoli’s recent Coppa Italia victory over Modena on Saturday, a match that saw Antonio Conte’s team win on penalties after a goalless draw.

Napoli’s sporting director, Giovanni Manna, spoke to the media before the Coppa Italia match, confirming Osimhen’s absence due to his transfer request.

“He asked to leave. We are calm because we have players in the squad who can replace him in the best way. However, we do not want to harm the integrity of the group and want to preserve it. We will see what will happen in the next few days, as quoted by CalcioNapoli24

Given his desire for a move, Osimhen seems unlikely to feature in Napoli’s upcoming matches. If he leaves, he will depart with a club record of 76 goals and 18 assists in 133 appearances.

While linked with several clubs this summer, no concrete offers have met Napoli’s valuation. Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) reportedly didn’t match Napoli’s asking price, while Chelsea seemingly dropped their interest after signing Samu Omorodion from Atletico Madrid.