Italian journalist Ciro Venerato has offered new insights into why Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) failed to secure the services of Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen during the 2024 summer transfer window.
Despite showing keen interest, both clubs ultimately fell short of Napoli’s valuation of the prolific striker. Reports indicate that PSG initiated talks in July 2024 and even reached an agreement with Osimhen.
However, negotiations stalled when the French champions were unwilling to meet Napoli’s high asking price. Napoli set Victor Osimhen’s release clause between €120 million and €130 million, a valuation that the Ligue 1 champions deemed too high.
Chelsea, on the other hand, pursued Osimhen until the final days of the summer window but failed to reach a personal agreement with the player.
Following the close of the window, Osimhen made a surprise loan move to Turkish giants Galatasaray. The Super Eagles star has since thrived, scoring eight goals and delivering four assists in ten appearances across all competitions, fueling further speculation about his future ahead of the upcoming winter and summer transfer windows.
Speaking to Campania Sport via AreaNapoli, Venerato explained the obstacles that hindered Osimhen’s move to either Chelsea or PSG. He noted Napoli’s stringent transfer policy under club president Aurelio De Laurentiis as a significant factor. “Without a clause, Kvara’s fate will be decided by De Laurentiis. It was the same for Osimhen,” he remarked.
Venerato also pointed to a mismatch in preferences between the striker and potential suitors. “There was an economic and structural problem for Victor: he was liked by clubs he didn’t like—the Saudi ones—while the clubs he aspired to liked him less,” he explained.
Highlighting a common perception about Osimhen’s playing style, Venerato added: “Many, in my opinion wrongly, consider Osimhen an excellent player for counterattacks and less for attacking the penalty area. For this reason, he has not had a market. The truth is this.”
Osimhen’s impressive form at Galatasaray has reignited interest in his signature, setting the stage for potential bidding wars in future transfer windows. Whether Chelsea, PSG, or another top European club will meet Napoli’s demands remained to be seen.
