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By: Ebenezer Bajela.
Italian journalist, Sebastiano Vernazza, has given reason why Napoli must not lower their asking price for Nigeria international Victor Osimhen amid reports the striker could be leaving the club in the summer, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis has reportedly set Osimhen’s price tag at €180m and Gazzetta highlights that it’s a ‘legitimate’ request considering Saudi Arabia’s PIF investments in football, including the purchase of Sandro Tonali.
Osimhen became Serie A’s Capocannoniere in 2022/23, scoring 26 goals in 32 appearances and playing a crucial role as Napoli won their first Scudetto in 33 years.
Napoli would like to extend his contract, but many top European clubs are interested in the Nigeria international, especially Liverpool and Bayern Munich, Gazzetta confirms.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Liverpool are one of a number of clubs keen to secure Osimhen’s services this summer, with the Reds potentially making an offer in the coming days.
Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain are also being heavily linked with the Nigeria international, who is thought to be valued by his Italian side in the region of £130m.
Vernazza, on Wednesday, wrote that Napoli’s request is ‘legitimate’ considering the huge investments made by Saudi Arabia’s PIF who control Newcastle United and the Saudi Pro League.
“They will pay €80m for Tonali and give €200m per season to Cristiano Ronaldo, while shouldn’t Osimhen be worth €180m?” asked Vernazza.
The journalist noted that the Saudi ‘bubble will explode sooner or later’, but in the meantime is legitimate that ADL keeps Osimhen’s price tag high especially because the Partenopei are not struggling financially and are in no rush to sell.
Perhaps, somebody will pay that fee, concluded Vernazza, ‘picking among Arabia, Real Madrid, PSG and Premier League clubs’ who have the financial power to match ADL’s demands.