Victor Osimhen’s insistence on his salary being doubled in a new deal from the current €4.5 million net to around €9 million net per season is stalling contract-extension talks with Napoli.
According to Calciomercato.com, the 24-year-old Nigerian striker and his agent, Roberto Calenda, are also pushing for an accessible release clause.
The Serie A champions’ offer is a world apart from what Osimhen and his agent are demanding, which has left talks unresolved for so long.
Today’s reports in the Italian media also claim that a slew of suitors, including Liverpool and Chelsea, are keenly watching Osimhen wrestle with Napoli in contract talks with the hope of signing him.
Osimhen scored 31 goals in 39 matches to help Napoli win the Scudetto last season after 33 years.
Despite his recent feud with the club over two videos in their TikTok profile mocking him and lingering contract extension talks, the former Lille striker continues to prove himself to be one of the most dangerous strikers in Europe this season, scoring six goals across eight Serie A matches.
Despite not offering something close to Osimhen’s demand, Napoli want to set the release clause at over €200 million, creating a significant divide between the two parties.
Osimhen’s contract with Napoli expires in June 2025, and his suitors will likely return for his signature next summer if both parties fail to reach an agreement.
The U17 World Cup winner recently said he was enjoying his football at Napoli, with every goal scored giving him goosebumps like the first time he scored for the Azzurri following his €71 million arrival from Lille in 2020.