22 December 2023 , 20:42
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Napoli are close to tying down striker Victor Osimhen on a 12-month contract extension to fend off Premier League interest.
Arsenal and Chelsea have watched the Nigeria striker, 24, who has scored seven Serie A goals this season. He scored a league-leading 26 last term as Napoli ended their long wait for a first league title since the days of Diego Maradona.
Osimhen’s contract expires in 2025 and talks over a new deal - to include a €130m (£112m) buyout 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 the star of the show for Napoli last season, hitting 31 goals in all competitions as the team won their first Scudetto since 1990 and reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Things have been tougher this season, though, after manager 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.
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After 16 games, Napoli are down in fifth, some 14 points adrift of league leaders Internazionale. They have made it into the knockout rounds of the Champions League, though, with Osimhen and co set to take on Barcelona in the round of 16.
Where will Victor Osimhen go next? Have your say in the comments section
Victor Osimhen let Napoli to Serie A glory last season (Nicola Ianuale/REX/Shutterstock)Arsenal and Chelsea are dealing with different issues in attack. The Gunners are among the Premier League's highest scorers, but lack a prolific number nine despite Gabriel Jesus' impressive all-round work.
Chelsea, meanwhile, continue to face questions up front despite spending big elsewhere on the pitch. Summer signing Christopher Nkunku has only just returned to action after picking up an injury in pre-season, while top scorer Nicolas Jackson has missed some high-profile chances either side of his seven league goals.
"Football is about scoring goals and we were not clinical in front of goal," manager Mauricio Pochettino told Match of the Day after his team's Premier League loss against Everton. "I'm really, really disappointed. We didn't get the point we deserved. I think we were better but we didn't get what we wanted.
"This was a game to play and to win. It's a problem we need to check. We need to analyse the reality. We need to talk and to try and improve in the next transfer market."