Victor Osimhen has formally requested to leave Napoli, a development that offers Chelsea a significant boost in their pursuit of the prolific striker.
The 25-year-old Nigerian international, who played a crucial role in Napoli’s Serie A title win during the 2022/23 season, has officially communicated his desire to move on from the club.
Napoli’s sporting director, Giovanni Manna, has confirmed Osimhen’s intentions, stating, “Victor Osimhen has asked to leave the club. He wants to go. The situation is clear; there were already chances for his exit last summer… We will see in the next 20 days.”
Osimhen’s departure would mark the end of a highly successful spell in Naples, where he has scored 76 goals and provided 18 assists in 133 appearances since joining from Lille in 2020. His impressive performances have attracted significant interest from several top clubs, with Chelsea among the frontrunners closely monitoring his situation.
Chelsea, eager to strengthen their attacking options after a challenging season, view Osimhen as a top target. Despite nearing a deal for Atlético Madrid’s Samu Omorodion, the Blues remain keen to secure Osimhen’s services, according to reports from SunSport.
If Chelsea manages to finalize the signing of Osimhen, it could potentially trigger a swap deal, as Napoli has shown interest in Romelu Lukaku as a possible replacement for the Nigerian forward.