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Napoli have renewed their interest to sign Bayer Leverkusen’s Nigerian forward Victor Boniface as a replacement for Victor Osimhen, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The Italian champions have also included Bologna’s Joshua Zirkzee in their shortlist of players tipped to replace Osimhen according to a report on La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Napoli are almost certainly have to let Osimhen leave in the summer, forcing them to find an adequate replacement for the Nigerian striker.
Boniface is currently out until April after he sustained an injury while on international duty with Nigeria.
The 23-year-old has hit the ground running since his summer transfer from Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise, registering 10 goals and seven assists in just 16 Bundesliga appearances for Alonso’s high-flying Werkself outfit, playing a leading role in their ascent to the Bundesliga summit.
The 6’3″ attacker has also added four goals in the UEFA Europa League and another two in the DFB Cup as Leverkusen continues to pursue silverware in three competitions.
For Zirkzee, the 22-year-old who has scored nine times and made four assists is an exciting option but his €40m release clause is only valid for Bayern Munich, so Napoli must compete for his signature, prompting them to consider alternatives.
Lille’s Jonathan David is also a target as well and talks have been ongoing with his entourage for months now. His contract expires in June 2025 and no new deal again has been agreed with the Ligue 1 outfit yet.
Osimhen signed a new contract with the club last December, extending his stay to June 2026 and including a €130m release clause, making his price tag clear to suitors ahead of the summer transfer window.
He recently told the press that he’s already decided his next step and is now expected to push for a departure from Napoli at the end of the season. Paris Saint-
Germain have been heavily linked with the 25-year-old, needing to find a replacement for Kylian Mbappe.
With Osimhen’s sale expected to bring in over €100m, the club can afford to pay out for their preferred target.