Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis has set a price tag of €180m on Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen, and Italian journalist Sebastiano Vernazza believes the asking price is justified. Despite reports of Osimhen potentially leaving the club this summer, Vernazza suggests that Napoli should not lower their demands.
In the 2022/23 season, Osimhen emerged as Serie A’s Capocannoniere, scoring 26 goals in 32 appearances and playing a vital role in Napoli’s first Scudetto win in 33 years. As a result, several top European clubs, including Liverpool and Bayern Munich, have expressed interest in the Nigerian international.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Liverpool is one of the clubs keen on securing Osimhen’s services and may present an offer in the near future. Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain are also rumored to be interested, with Napoli valuing Osimhen around £130m.
Vernazza argues that Napoli’s hefty price tag for Osimhen is fair considering the significant investments made by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) in football. The PIF has acquired ownership of Newcastle United and has been involved in the Saudi Pro League. The journalist points out that the PIF is willing to spend €80m on Sandro Tonali and €200m per season on Cristiano Ronaldo, raising the question of why Osimhen shouldn’t be worth €180m.
Vernazza acknowledges that the Saudi bubble may burst in the future but says it is reasonable for Napoli to keep Osimhen’s valuation high since the club is not in any financial distress and has no urgency to sell. The journalist even suggests that there are potential suitors who could meet Napoli’s demands, such as teams from Saudi Arabia, Real Madrid, PSG, and Premier League clubs, all of whom possess the financial power to match President De Laurentiis’s asking price.
With the interest surrounding Osimhen and Napoli’s steadfastness on their valuation, it remains to be seen which club will be willing to meet their demands. As the transfer window progresses, football fans will eagerly anticipate the outcome of this high-stakes negotiation.
