Nigerian striker, Victor Osimhen’s agent, Roberto Calenda has dismissed reports of his client planning to leave Napoli before the end of the ongoing summer transfer window.
Calenda distanced Osimhen from the reports amid strong links of a move from Napoli by European top clubs.
“Reports of my plan to explore all the options now and then not signing new contract at Napoli are completely fake,” Italian journalist Fabrizo Romano quoted Calenda on Monday.
“Napoli offered new long term deal to Osimhen and the club is only waiting for his final decision.”
Osimhen, who led Serie A’s scorers’ chart last season with 31 goals in 39 games, is being pursued by a host of top European clubs, including Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.
He was instrumental to Napoli’s first Scudetto in 33 years and reports in Italy indicate that the Neapolitans are reluctant to let their prized asset leave this summer.
To entice Osimhen to stay, Napoli has proposed to make him the highest-paid player in their ranks. The offer has not stopped other clubs from trying to prize him away from Naples.
To scare away the suitors, Napoli President, Aurelio De Laurentiis, has set an asking price of €150m (£129m) for the Nigerian.
Osimhen is currently holidaying in Lagos after helping the Super Eagles to a 3-2 defeat of Sierra Leone, a result which qualified Nigeria for next year’s African Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire.
Meanwhile, new Napoli sporting director, Mauro Meluso has stated that keeping Osimhen at the club would be a significant achievement for him.
Meluso is new at the Estadio Diego Armando Maradona, having replaced Cristiano Guintoli as Napoli’s sporting director just last week.
“I have just arrived and I understand that retaining Osimhen would be a significant achievement,” Meluso was quoted by Tutto Napoli.
“He brings a unique dimension to the team and players like him are few and far between.”
