11 months ago
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Victor Osimhen has distanced himself from speculation linking him with a January move to the Premier League, though admits he would ‘definitely’ be open to the idea in the future.
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The 25-year-old – currently on international duty with Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations – has established himself as one of the most lethal after strikers in European football, netting 31 times for Napoli last season.
His extraordinary exploits in front of goal steered Napoli to the Serie A title for the first time in 33 years last term and have made him a target for the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea this January.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is keen to bring in a top-class forward to ease the load on Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah, while Mauricio Pochettino has been left frustrated with a lack of ruthlessness from Nicolas Jackson and believes Osimhen could be the man to turn Chelsea’s fortunes around.
It’s understood Brentford and England star Ivan Toney is firmly also on the radar of both London clubs as they scour the market for attacking reinforcements to boost their prospects for the second half of the campaign.
However, it appears Arsenal and Chelsea may have to give up their pursuit of Osimhen and look elsewhere, with the Nigeria international telling Sky Sports that he is ‘happy’ in Naples for the time being.
‘I am happy with the president. I have a good relationship with him, I cannot lie, I have a seriously good relationship with him,’ Osimhen said.
‘He has been with me since I signed for the club in 2020.
‘I have a good relationship with his family also. For me, it is always important to make sure there is nothing wrong, regardless of what has happened, with the relationship with him and his family.
‘He has been the kind of president that has been supportive of me outside the pitch and of course I give my all trying to win the Scudetto for them.
‘It’s always important to have this sort of relationship, to be happy with the individual and the owner of the club.’
While Osimhen is enjoying life in Italy, he refused to rule out the possibility of completing a switch to England should the opportunity present itself down the line.
‘Of course one day, definitely,’ Osimhen added.
‘But for now I have other plans in my career that I am looking forward to. When the time comes, everyone will know.’
Osimhen has managed seven goals in 13 league games this season, with Napoli sitting down in eighth place in their defence of the Scudetto.
The ex-Lille star got himself on the scoresheet in Nigeria’s opening AFCON encounter at the weekend, finding his side’s equaliser in the side’s 1-1 draw withGroup A rivals Equatorial Guinea.
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