Victor Osimhen has been recently linked with Liverpool and Chelsea (Picture: Getty)
Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentiis has suggested that star striker Victor Osimhen will be sold amid fears ‘his mood has changed’ over a new deal, but the Italian side have played down ‘tension’ between the player and club.
Osimhen has attracted transfer interest from top clubs across the world and most recently has been linked to Liverpool and Chelsea.
Manchester United were looking at Osimhen in the summer while Kevin Campbellfeels Arsenal could be in position to sign the Nigerian at the end of the season amid reports that the Gunners will not do ‘significant business’ in January.
The 24-year-old has registered a total of 65 goals and 15 assists across 111 games for Napoli since he joined the Italian club from Lille in 2020.
He scored 31 times in 39 matches last term, helping Napoli secure the Serie A title for the first time in 33 years.
It was thought that Osimhen – who is under contract until 2025 – was set to stay at Napoli after a new deal was initially agreed between the player and club.
Napoli president De Laurentiis held multiple meetings with Osimhen’s agent after the summer transfer window closed and there were reports that an extension was nearly done, but doubts have since emerged over his future at the club.
Those doubts were further fuelled after Osimhen fell out with Napoli over a bizarre post on the club’s TikTok account.
Napoli president De Laurentiis has now created more speculation over Osimhen’s future as he said: ‘I have never been unhappy towards Osimhen, but there are always two of us in these things.
‘I have remained the same, if his mood has changed [over a new deal] I can’t do anything about it.
Victor Osimhen has scored six goals across 10 games so far this season (Picture: Getty)
‘If things change after a handshake, it’s disappointing, we take note of it but then life goes on.
‘There are excellent relations with him, the contract expires in 2025, there is time. Don’t forget that I sold Koulibaly [to Chelsea] a year before his contract expired.’
Napoli, meanwhile, have issued a statement in response to De Laurentiis’ comments and have played down reports of a ‘tense situation’.
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‘President De Laurentiis never shared any negative comment about Victor,’ Napoli said. ‘He just said that after verbally agreeing on plan to sign new deal, Osimhen changed his mind.
‘We hope it’s just stand-by moment to think about it. In the next weeks we will discuss with his agent [Roberto] Calenda about the future.
‘Reports of a tense situation between Napoli and Osimhen are 100% wide of the mark.’
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‘I can’t do anything about it…’