Juventus are reportedly looking to bring in a new No. 9 to bolster their squad next summer, with Napoli loanee Victor Osimhen among the players they’re interested in.
Italian journalist Paolo Paganini notes that Dušan Vlahović isn’t the striker for Juventus and states that the Turin-based club could be looking at Osimhen, who is currently on loan to Galatasaray and is linked to Chelsea.
Osimhen is with the Turkish giants on a straight loan with no options to buy the 25-year-old. In a report this month, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano noted that the player will return to Napoli, and the Serie A side have secured an option to extend his contract in 2027.
Napoli will have the chance to extend Osimhen’s contract but with a new release clause. His previous clause was set at €130 million, which created some issues over the summer when trying to work out a deal.
Starting in 2025, when Napoli can trigger the contract extension, the release clause will drop to €75 million, sending a clear message to any clubs still interested in Osimhen.
Victor Osimhen to Juventus?
The striker succeeded at Napoli, winning the 2022-23 league title. Considering how many times the Naples-based club has won Serie A in its history (three times), it was a special moment for the club.
As a result, many would assume that Osimhen would have a special place at Napoli; well, that's not the case. Football pundit Guido Trombetti interviewed Radio Goal live on Kiss Kiss Napoli and noted that he wouldn't be surprised if the Nigerian heads to Turin.
"He’s a great player, but it's a shame he left," Trombetti said (h/t TuttoJuve). "As talented as he is, he falls short when it comes to character. Buongiorno, on the other hand, never misses a header, wins every tackle, and goes after every ball without showing off.
"It wouldn’t bother me . I never got attached to him because he wasn’t very loyal. I don’t get attached to players who lack loyalty, but let’s see if Juve can manage him."
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