Napoli star Victor Osimhen emerged as a target for Newcastle United towards the end of the winter market, but a deal couldn’t be carried out since the Serie A side didn’t want to negotiate his sale.
On February 14th, we relayed news from Italy that the Tyneside club are still in the picture to sign the forward and his club teammate, Fabián Ruiz. These claims were made by Italian journalist Paolo Bargiggia.
Bargiggia took to Twitter to provide a latest update on the former Lille star. According to him, Sassuolo stars Gianluca Scamacca and Giacomo Raspadori are ‘carefully evaluated’ by the Naples club, if Osimhen and Dries Mertens were to leave in the summer.
Regarding Mertens, Bargiggia states he is ‘almost certain’ to make a switch elsewhere. On the Nigeria international, there is Eddie Howe’s side, and for €100m, Napoli will make him available in the market.
Scamacca e Raspadori sono due obbiettivi valutati attentamente dal @sscnapoli se partiranno @victorosimhen9 e @dries_mertens14 . Quasi sicuro il secondo; per 100 mln anche il nigeriano (Newcastle e United ipotesi ad oggi) va sul mercato.@SassuoloUS @lucacerchione
— Paolo Bargiggia (@Paolo_Bargiggia) February 23, 2022
Another journalist Luca Cerchione, relayed by Area Napoli, states Osimhen interests three clubs, in this order: Newcastle United, Manchester United and Real Madrid.
He adds the Magpies would be considered if they avoid relegation to the Championship. Eddie Howe’s side are 17th in the table with 22 points from 24 matches, two points ahead of 18th placed Burnley, who have a game in hand.
The player’s contract runs down in 2025. Cerchione explains Osimhen’s employer have ‘strong bargaining power’ and therefore, Napoli will be in a position to set the price they deem appropriate.
