According to reports from Italy, Napoli have informed Chelsea that they are ready to reduce their asking price for Victor Osimhen.
The Serie A team is willing to let Osimhen go this summer, but their president, Aurelio de Laurentiis, is waiting for a club to activate the Nigerian international’s €130m (£110.8m) release clause.
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Chelsea, Arsenal, and Paris Saint-Germain have shown interest as the summer transfer window approaches, but none have agreed to meet Napoli’s demands yet.
This situation puts Napoli in a bind, as they need the transfer funds from Osimhen’s sale to balance their summer spending, including a deal for Romelu Lukaku.
Antonio Conte has received reassurances that other key Napoli players, such as Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Frank Anguissa, and Stanislav Lobotka, will not be sold.
Napoli and Chelsea have initiated discussions over Lukaku’s transfer, but Chelsea is not interested in another loan and initially insisted on the Belgium international’s £38m release clause being met.
According to Corriere dello Sport, Lukaku wants to reunite with Conte at Napoli, and Chelsea is now willing to accept a lower fee of around €25m (£21.1m) to facilitate the move.
During their talks, Napoli indicated they might lower Osimhen’s valuation to €100m (£84.6m), although this amount is still considered too high by Chelsea, who recently agreed on a £42m fee with Aston Villa for Colombian striker Jhon Duran.
Osimhen still has the option to move to the Saudi Pro League but prefers to stay in Europe after rejecting a move to the Middle East last year.
At his unveiling as Napoli’s new head coach, Conte confirmed that Osimhen has an agreement to leave the club.
‘I know what the situation is regarding Osimhen. I know that there are agreements, that it is a situation different from all the others. I can only assist,’ Conte said.
‘He is a player of the highest level, exceptional, but I cannot enter into any discussion because it is part of previous agreements which have been clearly stated to me.’
Conte made it clear that he is also keen to have Lukaku in his team but Napoli face huge competition from AC Milan, who are also in discussions with Chelsea over a possible deal.
