Chelsea suffer Victor Osimhen transfer blow as Napoli president announces imminent new contract | OneFootball

Napoli club president Aurelio De Laurentiis has claimed that Chelsea target Victor Osimhen is about to sign a new contract at the Serie A club.

After the Nigerian striker fired his team to Scudetto glory last season, there was much speculation over his future with a hefty price tag placed on his head amid talks to extend his stay in Campania.

Out of contract in 2025, lengthy negotiations in the summer appeared to lead to a breakthrough over a one-year extension that would make him Napoli's highest-paid player.

However, the deal was not signed due to what De Laurentiis described as a "change of mood" from Osimhen.

That prompted reports of a downturn in relations between club and player, until the Napoli president's fresh claims that the deal will be signed imminently after all.

He told reporters at an event in Naples: "With Osimhen, we are about to sign the contract that was pending this summer."

Chelsea are understood to be targeting Osimhen alongside Ivan Toney in their pursuit of a new striker, although they may be happy to wait until next summer to strike a deal.

Reports out of Italy suggested the new contract contains a release clause worth just shy of £130million - but it is not clear when that option comes into effect.