Osimhen inching closer to Chelsea as Napoli eye spectacular replacement

Napoli are lining up Jonathan David to replace Victor Osimhen, according to Italian media.

The reigning Serie A champions have resigned themselves to losing their star striker. Osimhen will depart Napoli this summer after penning a new one-year deal just this winter with a €130 million release clause.

The Naples-based side will insist on this clause being triggered, which narrows down the number of clubs able to sign the Nigerian sharpshooter, but the expectation is nevertheless that the 25-year-old will leave.

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In the Premier League, Chelsea are the side most prominently linked with a move for Osimhen, though the Blues will face stiff competition from PSG, who have earmarked the striker as the ideal replacement for Kylian Mbappe.

While it is still unclear where Osimhen will end up, the fact that he is on the way out is all but confirmed by the news that Napoli have a favourite to replace the Nigerian already lined up.

Napoli want David

It is somewhat poetic that the man who replaced Osimhen at Lille could also be the man to replace him at Napoli. According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Jonathan David is the current favourite to become the next star centre-forward in Naples.

It is claimed that Feyenoord’s Santiago Gimenez was previously high on the agenda, but the Dutch side’s asking price has put the Italians off. Apparently, the Rotterdam giants will ask for around €60m for the Mexican whereas Lille can’t reasonably demand that hefty a fee for David due to his expiring contract.

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The Canadian is only tied down until 2025, meaning that Lille will have to sell him this summer, which puts them in a weaker position in the negotiations. David is viewed as more attainable than Gimenez, though Napoli will face competition for his signature, particularly from the Premier League.