Napoli have reportedly told Chelsea that they will have to pay the full £113m release clause for striker Victor Osimhen during the summer transfer window.
The 25-year-old is on the shopping list of a host of top European clubs after impressing during Napoli's title-winning campaign of 2022-23.
Osimhen has carried his good form into this season also, netting 11 goals and providing three assists in 15 Serie A matches, although his side are currently languishing in eighth place in the league standings.
The attacker is also a key member of his national side, representing Nigeria on 28 occasions and recently helping the Super Eagles to the Africa Cup of Nations final last month, when they lost to host nation Ivory Coast.
According to the Evening Standard, Napoli are demanding that any potential suitors for Osimhen pay the full £113m release clause for his services in the summer.
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The report claims that the striker will leave Italy at the conclusion of the current term, although his final destination has not been decided yet.
It is understood that Mauricio Pochettino's Chelsea are in the hunt for Osimhen's signature, with the Blues ruing missed chances as they lost the EFL Cup final to Liverpool last weekend.
The West Londoners will be highly reliant on their ability to achieve European football next term in their pursuit of the Nigerian, which could prove a stumbling block.
Pochettino's men are currently occupying 11th position in the Premier League standings, four points behind Roberto De Zerbi's Brighton & Hove Albion in seventh.
The Blues also have an alternative route onto the continental stage in the form of the FA Cup, with the winners of that competition qualifying for the league phase of next season's Europa League.
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It is believed that both Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain are also huge admirers of Osimhen and could rival Chelsea for the 25-year-old this summer.
Mikel Arteta's Gunners are said to have drawn up a four-man shortlist of striker targets ahead of the next transfer window, including the likes of Ivan Toney and Sporting Lisbon's Viktor Gyokeres.
Ligue 1 champions PSG reportedly believe that Osimhen would be an ideal replacement for Kylian Mbappe, who is set to join Real Madrid ahead of the 2024-25 term.
Aiming to give themselves a fighting chance of earning a European spot via league position, Chelsea will make the short trip across West London to face Thomas Frank's Brentford on Saturday afternoon.
Carter White
