French powerhouse, Paris Saint-Germain appeared poised to secure the signature, highly sought-after Napoli striker Victor Osimhen in a significant €120 million deal, swiftly moving to replace Kylian Mbappe in the Ligue 1.
According to a report from Italian outlet Il Mattino, the prolific Nigerian forward is expected to travel to Paris today or tomorrow to finalize a lucrative contract with the reigning Ligue 1 champions.
Less than 24 hours after club legend and French national team captain Mbappe was unveiled by Real Madrid in a grand ceremony, PSG seems to have acted swiftly to fill the void left by him.
The report indicates that negotiations between Napoli and PSG have been ongoing for some time regarding Osimhen, despite advice for him to remain in Naples.
A breakthrough finally seems to have been reached after involvement from both club presidents.
Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis had previously insisted that Osimhen was not for sale and set a substantial release clause, which had deterred potential suitors earlier in the transfer window.
However, it is now reported that PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has agreed to meet these demands, without including any player exchanges despite earlier rumors suggesting PSG was willing to offer three players.
Osimhen, known for his prowess in front of goal, played a pivotal role in Napoli’s Serie A triumph, ending a 33-year title drought for the club.
The 25-year-old Nigerian international has impressed since joining Napoli from Lille in 2020, and if the transfer is finalized, he is set to earn a staggering salary of €12 million, £10 million, annually at the Parc des Princes.
This development marks the likely end of Osimhen’s four-year tenure at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, where he played a crucial role in Napoli’s historic Serie A triumph two seasons ago.
While Osimhen managed to score 25 goals in his debut season, he faced challenges last season, tallying 17 goals and providing three assists across all competitions as Napoli struggled to defend their title.
While PSG’s acquisition of Osimhen will undoubtedly be a significant loss for Napoli, the substantial fee offered appears to have been too tempting to resist.
With Kylian Mbappe’s future now in Madrid, Osimhen’s imminent arrival will bolster PSG’s attacking lineup as they aim to reclaim the Ligue 1 title and mount a strong challenge in the Champions League next season.
