Chelsea might finally find a way to offload Romelu Lukaku as Napoli looks to secure a replacement for their star striker, Victor Osimhen. This move could significantly shift both clubs as they prepare for the upcoming season.
According to TuttoSport, Napoli’s head coach, Antonio Conte, is eager to have a new striker by July 25 for the team’s pre-season training camp. Conte’s urgency is driven by the need to have a solid squad ready for the new season. However, for Napoli to afford Lukaku, they must first finalize Osimhen’s transfer.
Romelu Lukaku to leave Chelsea and reunite with Antonio Conte
Reports from Gianluca Di Marzio indicate that Lukaku is very interested in reuniting with Conte, under whom he played at both Chelsea and Inter Milan. Lukaku has reportedly agreed to a three-year contract with Napoli, where he would earn €6.5 million (£5.5m/$7m) per year. However, there is still a financial gap between Chelsea’s asking price and what Napoli is willing to pay. Chelsea wants €35 million (£29.5m/$38m) plus bonuses for Lukaku, while Napoli is only prepared to offer around €25 million (£21m/$27m).
The potential departure of Osimhen from Napoli has been a hot topic for months. The Nigerian striker has a release clause of €130 million (£110m/$142m), which has kept many clubs at bay, including Chelsea and Arsenal. However, recent reports from Italy suggest that Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) has agreed on personal terms with Osimhen. PSG has offered him a lucrative five-year contract worth €14 million (£12m/$15m) annually. Despite this agreement, PSG and Napoli have not settled on the transfer fee.
Napoli is under financial strain, which is made worse by their absence from the Champions League. This makes it difficult for them to keep Osimhen, who earns €10 million (£8.5m/$11m) annually. PSG has made an initial bid of €85 million (£72m/$93m), which Napoli is likely to reject, but it opens the door for further negotiations.
The situation is further complicated by Napoli’s need to secure funds from Osimhen’s sale to reinvest in their squad. The club is keen to complete this deal quickly to have the necessary funds available to strengthen their team before the start of the season. Napoli’s financial constraints and the need for squad reinforcement make the transfer of Osimhen a high priority.
For Chelsea, selling Lukaku would mean moving on from a challenging period. The Belgian striker’s time at Stamford Bridge has been mixed, with his performances failing to meet expectations set by his hefty transfer fee. A move to Napoli could provide Lukaku with a fresh start under a manager who knows his strengths well and can potentially bring out his best form.
On the other hand, PSG’s pursuit of Osimhen reflects their need to replace Kylian Mbappe, who has moved to Real Madrid. The French club is eager to finalize the transfer to strengthen their attacking options. The negotiations between PSG and Napoli will be crucial in determining the success of both clubs’ transfer strategies.
The potential transfer of Lukaku to Napoli hinges on the sale of Osimhen to PSG. Both deals are complex and involve significant financial considerations. For Chelsea, offloading Lukaku would mean closing a difficult chapter and potentially reinvesting in their squad. For Napoli and PSG, these moves could reshape their squads for the upcoming season, with Napoli needing to finalize Osimhen’s departure to fund their new signings and PSG aiming to quickly replace Mbappe. As the transfer window progresses, fans and analysts will be keenly watching how these negotiations unfold, as they could have a significant impact on the fortunes of all three clubs in the new season.
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