Victor Osimhen remains stuck at Napoli for the moment, despite his clear desire to be transferred in the summer.
Chelsea, Arsenal and PSG are three of the top clubs who have been persistently linked with a move for the 25-year-old striker, but with Napoli adamant in their demand that Osimhen’s €130m release clause be matched, none have been tempted to make a move.
PSG have reached a personal agreement with Osimhen, but have not managed to get the Italians to give in to their demands.
EXCLUSIVE: PSG in talks to transfer Victor Osimhen from Napoli
Former Napoli sporting director Mauro Meluso has now admitted that the Serie A club have made serious mistakes with their transfer strategy for the hitman.
Speaking to SportItalia (via Sports Journal), said: “We made some mistakes in managing Osimhen.
“I arrived at Napoli in mid-July and I knew there was a great offer from one of the biggest clubs in Europe. In retrospect, maybe we could have sold him.”
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Why Napoli’s stance was a mistake
Instead of allowing Osimhen to leave, Napoli negotiated a new contract with their star.
In this deal, he agreed a contract worth €10 million per year until 2026, with the understanding that the Serie A club would sell him this summer.
However, the €130m offer that Napoli had hoped for has not materialised. This has been partly due to a slight decline in Osimhen’s form (he scored 17 goals in 32 games last season, compared to 31 in 39 the campaign before), but it has also been due to a general deflation in transfer prices.
But beyond the high transfer price, matching or bettering Osimhen’s wages is an additional financial burden buyers must consider, putting him even further out of reach for most clubs. His estimated transfer value (ETV) stands at €71.1m, having previously peaked at €81m.
As such, he remains stuck at Napoli, with some sources describing him as a “prisoner” of the club.
Meanwhile, Osimhen may have to consider a move to the Saudi Pro League if Napoli remain firm on their stance that they will not accept a cut-price deal for their striker.
