Chelsea finally set to get rid of Romelu Lukaku? Napoli take stride forward in bid to sign £100m flop

According to TuttoSport, Napoli’s head coach Antonio Conte is keen to have a new striker secured by July 25, when the team heads to their pre-season training camp. The urgency stems from the need to solidify the squad ahead of the new season – but Osimhen’s transfer needs to be finalised swiftly so that they can recycle that transfer money into acquiring Lukaku.

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  Meanwhile, Gianluca Di Marzio reports that Lukaku has expressed a strong desire to reunite with Conte, under whom he previously played at Chelsea and Inter Milan. Lukaku has reportedly agreed to a three-year contract with Napoli, earning €6.5 million (£5.5m/$7m) per year. However, a financial gap remains between Chelsea’s asking price and Napoli’s offer. Chelsea is holding out for €35 million (£29.5m/$38m) plus bonuses for the Belgian forward, while Napoli is looking to pay around €25 million (£21m/$27m).

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    Osimhen’s departure from Napoli has been a topic of speculation for months. The Nigerian striker has a hefty €130 million (£110m/$142m) release clause that has deterred potential buyers, including Chelsea and Arsenal. However, reports in Italy claim that Paris Saint-Germain have agreed on personal terms with Osimhen. The French club has offered the striker a lucrative five-year contract worth €14 million (£12m/$15m) annually. Despite this, PSG and Napoli have yet to reach a consensus on the transfer fee.

    Napoli’s financial constraints, exacerbated by their absence from the Champions League, make it challenging to retain Osimhen, who commands €10 million (£8.5m/$11m)per year in wages. This vulnerability has prompted PSG to table an €85 million (£72m/$93m) bid, which will be turned down but opens the door for further negotiations.

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    WHAT NEXT?

    For Chelsea, offloading Lukaku would mark the end of a tumultuous chapter. The Belgian striker has had a mixed tenure at Stamford Bridge, and a move to Napoli could offer him a fresh start. Meanwhile, PSG would like to complete the signing of Osimhen as quickly as possible to replace Kylian Mbappe who has already left for Real Madrid. With financial considerations and strategic priorities at play, the coming weeks will be crucial in determining the outcome of these high-stakes transfers.

    Source goal.com