Napoli are seemingly planning for life after Victor Osimhen, with the Serie A side turning its attention to Santiago Gimenez and Joshua Zirkzee as possible replacements.
Osimhen signed a contract renewal in November 2023, which saw him extend his stay at the club until 2026. However, it is believed the contract extension was only to drive up his transfer value.
Despite having over two years left on his current deal with Napoli, the Nigeria international has previously hinted at a move away from the Italian side in the summer.
Osimhen has developed into a world-class player since swapping Lille for the Partenopei for a club-record fee of €70 million.
The 25-year-old helped Napoli to win their first league title in 33 years last season while becoming the first African to win the Serie A Golden Boot.
Napoli target Gimenez, Zirkzee as Osimhen’s replacement
Osimhen’s impressive displays have seen him linked with several clubs and it appears Napoli have already begun planning for life without their star striker.
According to a report by Gazzetta dello Sport, and shared by ESPN, Francesco Calzona’s side have pencilled Santiago Gimenez and Joshua Zirkzee as candidates to replace Osimhen if he decides to leave at the end of the season.
The report suggests Napoli are particularly keen on Gimenez, who is currently one of the hottest prospects in Europe. The Mexico international is enjoying a productive campaign in the Eredivisie, where he has scored 21 goals in 25 appearances for Feyenoord.
Gimenez also made his mark in the UEFA Champions League with two goals and an assist in four matches. The 22-year-old won’t come cheap, as Napoli would have to table an offer in the region of €50 million to prise him away from PSV.
The Italian club is also said to be targeting Joshua Zirkzee, who is also one of the best-performing strikers in Serie A this season.
Zirkzee, who was born in the Netherlands but has Nigerian roots, is considered a cheaper option as compared to Gimenez, but Napoli’s president Aurelio De Laurentiis has made the Mexican his prime target if Osimhen leaves in the summer.
Victor Osimhen all but set to leave Napoli in the summer
Osimhen has a release clause of €120 million, which was reportedly inserted in his contract when he signed a new deal in November. The striker, however, appears set to move on to a fresh challenge in the summer, with Chelsea, Paris-Saint Germain and Arsenal all possible destinations.
In January, the Napoli striker, who has scored 13 goals and provided four assists this season, all but confirmed his departure from the club when he said he had already made up his mind on his next move.
The Nigerian went ahead to wax lyrical about the Premier League, describing it as one of the best leagues in the world.
“I have already made my decision on the next step to do at the end of the season. I already made up my mind. I already have my plan, I know what I want to do, the next step I want to take,” Osimhen told CBS Golazo.
“I think 60% of the people mention the rumours about me linked with the Premier League. The Premier League is one of the biggest leagues in the world. I want to finish the season with Napoli strong then come up with the decision I've already made.”
The plot thickened when Napoli president De Laurentiis also revealed in a January interview with Eurosport that the club “already knew he [Osimhen] would go to Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain or the Premier League.” Meanwhile, Osimhen’s compatriot and Bayer Leverkusen forward Victor Boniface has also been mooted as a candidate to replace him at Napoli in the summer.
