New Delhi: Napoli forward Victor Osimhen is the biggest name who is likely to switch clubs on deadline day as his saga has continued all summer. Linked with clubs like PSG and Chelsea all summer, there was also some reported interest in the Nigerian from the Middle East and it seems like Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli are ready to do everything in their power to bring the forward to their club.
According to reports online, the club has agreed on a deal that can potentially rise to €80 million and have also offered a mammoth salary to the striker which is reported worth €160 million spread across four years and have also added a release clause in the contract which is valued at less than a €100 million, which was key for Osimhen to accept the move to the Middle-East.
While the striker hasn’t yet given his go-ahead to the transfer yet, he could be left with no other choice. He isn’t in Antonio Conte’s plans for the season and Chelsea won’t match the astronomical salary which is being offered to him by Al-Ahli. The striker prefers a switch to the Premier League club as he wants to play for the club his idol, Didier Drogba, used to represent and also wishes to stay in Europe.
🚨🇸🇦 BREAKING: Napoli reach total agreement with Al Ahli for Victor Osimhen!
Club to club deal done for €75/80m total package, Al Ahli have already booked a medical.
Four year contract worth €25/30m per season net to Osimhen + RELEASE clause.
Final green light up to Victor. pic.twitter.com/EEAm9mdtgJ
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 30, 2024
However, the biggest stumbling block in his move to Chelsea proved to be his wages as the forward isn’t willing to take a pay cut on what he’s currently earning at Naopli and the English club are keen to stick to their wage structure. If neither of the parties budges from their stance, a deal between the two seems unlikely. Chelsea want to add a number nine to their ranks but aren’t interested in changing the new wage structure they’ve implemented at the club.
Osimhen’s agent has also come out and said that the striker sees himself still playing in Europe at a club bigger than Napoli and given that no European club other than Chelsea seem interested in the forward, that makes it even more unlikely that the Blues would give into the striker’s demands. Premier League clubs have to be even more careful with their finances this season with the PSR scrutinizing their moves more than ever this season and the London side have already spent too much in the transfer window.
They are also exploring the option to sign a Premier League-proven forward in Ivan Toney from Brentford, who would be a much cheaper alternative than Osimhen. The Brentford striker is also on the wishlist of Al-Ahli and he seems to be the back-up option for both these sides. At this point, it seems likely that one of Ivan Toney and Victor Osimhen will head to Al-Ahli while the other will head to Chelsea.
The Saudi Pro League club have reached an agreement with Napoli for the Nigerian forward but the final answer still remains in the hands of Osimhen. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
