Liverpool and Chelsea are on red alert over Victor Osimhen’s contract situation, with negotiations between the player and Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis reportedly ‘difficult’.
Osimhen’s current contract is due to expire in 2025 and he has been heavily linked with a transfer after firing Napoli to their first Serie A title since 1990 last season with 26 league goals in 32 appearances.
Liverpool recently sent scouts to watch Osimhen in action during the international break, while Mirror Football understands that Chelsea are also interested in signing the 24-year-old. And, according to a report from Calcio Mercato, negotiations over a new deal at Napoli have stalled.
The report states that a ‘great frost has fallen’ between Osimhen and De Laurentiis, with the two parties far apart on wages. Osimhen is said to want his yearly wages to be doubled from €4.5million (£3.9m) to €9m (£7.8m).
There is also disagreement over the inclusion of a release clause, with De Laurentiis wanting to set it at €200m (£174m) while Osimhen would prefer a more ‘easy and cheap’ fee. The report adds that both Liverpool and Chelsea are waiting in the wings.
It is claimed the Reds have ‘moved decisively’ and made ‘several direct contacts’, while Chelsea first showed interest in the Nigerian international last summer. De Laurentiis recently spoke out about the ongoing negotiations with Osimhen, admitting he may sell the striker if he does not sign a new deal.
“I have never not been calm when it comes to Osimhen, but it takes two to tango,” he said. “I remain the same, if his mood has changed, then there’s not much I can do about that. If after a handshake things change, that is disappointing, we take it into account, but life goes on.
“We have a good rapport with him, the contract runs to 2025, so there is time. Don’t forget I sold [Kalidou] Koulibaly [to Chelsea] at the last minute.”
However, Napoli’s sporting director Mauro Meluso has insisted the club will not sell any of their best players in the January transfer window, meaning Liverpool and Chelsea may have to wait until the end of the season to try and sign Osimhen.
“Absolutely not, the squad is very large and leaves us calm,” Meluso told Sport Mediaset, as per Football Italia, when asked about the prospect of players leaving in January. “Everything can be improved, these are discussions we will have later. We will certainly get together to understand how and whether to intervene.”
