Victor Osimhen: Will He be Tempted by Saudi Surge?

Though Premier League chief executive, Richard Masters insists he is not concerned about the rise of Saudi Arabia’s influence within the world of football, it is obvious now that each time Saudi sneezes, European football catches cold. Since Al-Nassr signed Cristiano Ronaldo, a number of high-profile players have moved to the Southwest Asian country. It therefore came as no surprise that Al-Hilal is turning attention to Napoli sensation, Victor Osimhen. Whether the Super Eagle will be tempted by Saudi dollar and join the bandwagon has left pundits with fingers crossed

After failing to lure France poster boy, Kylian Mbappé, Saudi Arabian side, Al-Hilal has turned attention to Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimen, SportMediaset informs.

Al-Hilal are set to be ready to table a large offer for Napoli and the striker, L’Equipe relays (via EuroSport).

Meanwhile, the Nigerian star is in advanced talks to extend his contract with Napoli until 2027, but the parties are having trouble agreeing to the amount of his future release clause. Aurelio De Laurentiis would gladly omit it from the contract altogether. Still, there’s optimism he’ll stay put this summer, Calciomercato informs.

However, another report has it  that Osimhen is also being lured by Ligue 1 giant. Paris Saint Germaine and he is expected to earn €50m if he makes the move to French capital.

De Laurentiis expects to receive a million-dollar offer for the player and has credited PSG as the only club that can afford the Nigeria international.

After other top clubs like Real Madrid, Manchester United, and Bayern Munich have pulled out of negotiations for Osimhen due to Napoli owner, Aurelio De Laurentiis’ high asking price, PSG made an offer of €120m for the Nigerian  which the Serie A champions have rejected.

Napoli values Osimhen at €150m and no club is currently willing to meet that asking price.

“The only club that could afford Victor Osimhen is Paris Saint-Germain,” De Laurentiis told Mediaset.

According to elfutbolero.us, if PSG buy the 24-year-old, the player could receive a salary of €50m to be the star of the team but Osimhen is not keen on a move to the Ligue 1.

Multiple sources in Italy claim Osimhen returned to Paris on Wednesday, but his trip to France doesn’t seem linked to a possible move to PSG.

La Gazzetta dello Sport and Il Corriere dello Sport claim Osimhen was spotted at Naples’ Capodichino Airport on Wednesday, boarding an AirFrance 1579 flight for Paris.

Both Italian papers claim the Nigeria international returned to the French capital to meet some of his friends on his day off. He was not accompanied by his agent Roberto Calenda who is in talks to extend the striker’s contract with the Serie A champions.

Osimhen’s current deal at the Stadio Maradona expires in June 2025 but Napoli are in a rush to extend his stay at the club.

However, there is still no agreement over the striker’s new salary and a potential release clause that may be included in his new contract with Napoli.

Osimhen has repeatedly said that he wants to continue with the Partenopei and probably wanted to confirm his commitment on Wednesday when he tweeted a picture of himself training in a Napoli kit.

Interestingly, in the vibrant city of Naples, the euphoria surrounding the star striker of Napoli, Osimhen, has reached unparalleled heights.

The enthusiasm has spread like wildfire, engulfing not only football fans but also the local zoological community.

In a touching and significant gesture, the Naples Zoo has chosen to bestow the name “Victor” upon a recently born black Jaguar, according to Tutto Napoli.

This symbolic act pays tribute to Nigeria’s football sensation, while also shedding light on the conservation needs of this endangered species.

The birth of this young Jaguar, a remarkable specimen of the Panthera onca species, is both a cause for celebration and concern for the Naples Zoo.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has classified the Panthera onca as “near threatened” (NT), indicating the constant dangers it faces in its struggle for survival, primarily due to habitat loss and other human-induced factors.

Seizing the moment, the Napoli Zoo has taken to its social media channel to underscore the significance of this naming event.

By drawing a special connection to Osimhen, the zoo aims to raise awareness about the fragility of the Jaguar’s existence and the urgent need for conservation efforts.

According to Sky Italia, Napoli and Osimhen are close to finalising a new contract after several rounds of talks with the player’s agent, Roberto Calenda. But the release clause remains a point of contention. While the club wants the figure to be around €200 million (£171m/$219m), Osimhen’s entourage wants a lower fee and a settlement could be reached at around €150m.

The Nigerian’s current contract with the Serie A champions ends in 2025 and it has been reported that he will commit at least one more season to the current deal. During the meetings with Calenda, most of the talks circled around his wages and the release clause and it is now believed that the striker is now closer than ever to signing the extension.

If Osimhen indeed signs the extension, PSG will have to look at options elsewhere. A couple of weeks earlier, Calenda had dismissed reports of potential issues over a new contract with Napoli and  De Laurentiis has always been bullish in his confidence that the striker will stay at the club despite interest from some of the biggest names in Europe.

The striker was instrumental in their quest for the Scudetto last season as the 24-year-old scored 26 goals and provided four assists during the campaign. It is undoubtedly a huge boost to their Serie A title-defence ambitions which they secured after an excruciating wait of 33 years.