Victor Osimhen to Chelsea transfer saga has taken a different twist with Saudi club now fully in the race for the Napoli star.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Al-Ahli have entered the race for Victor Osimhen with a concrete effort. The Saudi Pro League side have reportedly tabled a huge offer in excess of €65million for the 25-year-old.
The bid, which has fallen short of Napoli’s valuation of the player has been reportedly rejected but that may not spell the end of the move. The Saudi club are expected to table another offer should Napoli turn it down.
Victor Osimhen to Chelsea: the intriguing twist to the transfer saga
Al-Ahli’s bid has added a layer of intrigue to the Osimhen transfer saga. Recall PSG marched breaks on their move for the player after Napoli refused to budge on their asking price for the player. Another European club, Chelsea, also halted proceedings on the move due to the asking price.
While the two European clubs have halted moves for Osimhen, the pressure must have apparently mounted on both the player and Napoli to find a solution before the transfer window closes.
Note that Osimhen has always wanted to continue his career in Europe. In the 2023 summer transfer window, he reportedly turned down a lucrative contract offer from Al-Hilal to stay at Napoli because he did not want to move to Saudi Arabia. Now, the likelihood of him continuing his career in Europe is getting slimmer by the day.
The 2024 European summer transfer window will be closed on August 31, 2024. Osimhen and Napoli have literally days to sort out the dragging transfer saga if he is to continue his career in Europe.
Al-Ahli to successfully hijack Victor Osimhen to Chelsea move?
Al-Ahli have now emerged as a third force and are likely to have a huge bearing on how this transfer saga will be resolved. Note that the Saudi transfer window will run for one month and a few weeks after the European transfer market is closed.
This means should Chelsea and PSG fail to broker a deal with Napoli for Osimhen, the player may likely be moving to Saudi Arabia. Al-Ahli will still have enough time to talk Napoli into a deal for the player. It is understood Napoli and Osimhen have agreed to part ways. The Serie A outfit will be looking to desperately offload the player and are likely to tone down on their demands for the player’s transfer.
Is Victor Osimhen to Chelsea move still possible?
According to reports, Chelsea have reawakened their interest lately in Victor Osimhen. Recall that the club initially wanted to add Romelu Lukaku’s deal to the Osimhen’s move before they made it a separate pursuit. Agreement has been reached with Napoli for Romelu Lukaku with Osimhen’s deal now taking center stage.
However, Chelsea are likely to contend with Al-Ahli now, who are also interested in the player. With the European transfer window set to close in days, Victor Osimhen to Chelsea deal can still be possible. Talks between Napoli are likely to be centred around reducing the players’ asking price before proceedings on personal terms.
Victor Osimhen’s agent Roberto Calenda shuts down Saudi rumors
Al-Ahli must have had a strong interest in Osimhen but it appears the move won’t be realized. In a latest quote by his agent, shared by Fabrizio Romano, Osimhen’s agent reaffirmed the player will continue his career in Europe and will not ”be shipped far away.”
“Victor is not a package to be shipped far away to make room for new prophets”, he said.
“Victor still has so much to do IN EUROPE”.
“Osimhen is a Napoli player, with a contract recently renewed with mutual satisfaction”.
“He made history and when there were major offers (also this year) we always accepted the club’s decisions”.
“Victor was elected African footballer of the year, 8th at the Ballon d’Or. There is a need for respect and balance.”
All fingers are now crossed on what will be the next chapter on this transfer saga. Reports claimed Al-Ahli were close to a deal for Osimhen but the release clause was still the issue. Osimhen’s future is still uncertain as things stand.
