By Daily Sports Nigeria on November 27, 2024

Juventus have reportedly made contact with Napoli to explore the possibility of signing Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen, according to Italian football journalist Fabrizio Romano, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

The Turin-based club’s interest in Osimhen is said to be part of their plans to secure a new first-choice striker, with current forward Dusan Vlahovic’s future hanging in the balance.

Vlahovic’s contract expires in 2026, but Juventus may be forced to sell if renewal talks, currently stalled, fail to progress before the end of the season.

Osimhen, currently on loan at Turkish giants Galatasaray, has been in blistering form, netting eight goals in 10 games this season while also providing four assists.

However, any move for the 25-year-old would be a complicated affair due to his high valuation and the historic rivalry between Napoli and Juventus. Napoli reportedly value Osimhen at €60–70 million and are not keen on swap deals, preferring an outright sale.

Osimhen’s loan to Galatasaray followed a failed deadline day transfer to Chelsea and Saudi Arabia, with Napoli inserting a break clause allowing his sale in January. Despite Galatasaray’s desire to make the deal permanent, the Turkish side is unlikely to meet Napoli’s asking price.

Juventus’ interest, however, comes as a blow to Chelsea, who are expected to reignite their pursuit of the Nigerian striker in 2025. The Stamford Bridge outfit can afford Napoli’s demands and view Osimhen as a key target for their attack.

The forward’s time at Napoli turned sour last season following the infamous TikTok scandal, where the club mocked his penalty miss against Bologna. This incident, combined with a poor season under three different managers, left Osimhen frozen out of Antonio Conte’s squad this season. Seeking playing time, he opted for a dry loan to Galatasaray, where he has since reignited his career.

Osimhen was instrumental in Napoli’s 2022/23 Scudetto win, scoring 26 league goals, but the relationship between player and club has deteriorated.

Juventus’ approach underscores the growing interest in one of Europe’s most sought-after forwards, though Napoli remain firm on their preference for a full cash deal over player exchanges.

Source Punch Ng

Posted November 27, 2024

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