26 January 2024 , 20:15
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Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has revealed star striker Victor Osimhen will leave the club at the end of the season, putting the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal on red alert.
Osimhen was heavily linked with a move away from Napoli last summer, having scored 26 Serie A goals to help them win a first league title since 1990. The 25-year-old ultimately ended up signing a new contract with Napoli last month, but it seems that was only done to protect his value.
And De Laurentiis has confirmed Osimhen is set for a major summer transfer, naming Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and the Premier League as potential destinations. "This was already known since this summer, our negotiations [over the new contract] were friendly, otherwise it would not have been so long," De Laurentiis is quoted as saying by The Evening Standard.
"We knew he would go to Real Madrid, PSG or a top English club." De Laurentiis' comments come after Osimhen opened up about his future in an interview with CBS, admitting he has "already made up my mind" about what he wants to do next.
"I think 60 per cent of everyone are arguing, or the rumour is going around about me being linked the Premier League," he said. "But...when you are one of the hottest striker in the globe, you play this type of thing. Of course, EPL is one of the biggest leagues in the whole world.
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"At the end of the season, I think I already made up my mind. I already know what I wanna do with my career, since I've started, I've been the one taking my own decision and everything is working out well for me.
"Even though when I started it, it didn't go so well as planned. But I already have my plan, I already know what I want to do, the next step I want to take. So for now I just want to finish the season strong, go relax somewhere with my daughter, and then finally come up with the decision I've already made."
Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has revealed Osimhen will leave the club next summer (NurPhoto via Getty Images)Osimhen was among the strikers United considered making a move for last summer before they ultimately decided to buy Rasmus Hojlund and the Red Devils will be in the market for attacking reinforcements at the end of the season, particularly with Anthony Martial set to depart when his contract expires.
United had been hoping to sign a striker this month, but manager Erik ten Hag has admitted they simply cannot afford it. He said: "I looked, but there is no space. No space on Financial Fair Play to do something about this lack of quantity in the striker position.
"Of course, [Marcus] Rashford can play as a striker, we have some other alternatives and it's clear Anthony is out for a couple of months so it's a gap in our squad, clear."