Victor Osimhen has reportedly been left off Napoli’s squad list for the season after failing to seal a move to Chelsea on deadline day.
The Nigerian striker was heavily linked with a switch to Stamford Bridge on Friday, but despite the Blues making a late offer to sign him they could not get a deal over the line in time.
Therefore, Osimhen remains a Napoli player for now, but he is not part of Antonio Conte’s plans, having not featured at all for the Italian club in the opening weeks of the season.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Osimhen has been excluded from Napoli’s list of players for the 2024-25 campaign due to his relationship with the club being ‘broken’.
His team-mate Mario Rui has also not made the cut and is seeking a move away from the club.
Napoli striker Victor Osimhen failed to secure a deadline day move to Chelsea
He has now reportedly been left off Antonio Conte’s squad list for the season
New Napoli boss Conte has decided that Osimhen is not part of his plans
Osimhen has also been attracting interest from Saudi Arabia, as Al-Ahli reached an agreement with Napoli on Friday morning for the forward.
But Osimhen did not give the green light to the move, and Al-Ahli went on to sign Ivan Toney from Brentford late on deadline day instead.
The Saudi transfer window is still open, meaning Al-Ahli could revive their interest or another club could come forward to offer Osimhen an escape route.
He has currently been left in limbo, though, with Napoli making it clear that they do not see him as part of their project.
They completed the signing of Romelu Lukaku for £38m from Chelsea earlier this week, with the Belgian striker expected to lead the line for Conte’s team moving forward.
Lukaku is widely viewed as Osimhen’s replacement, who has been cast aside by Napoli just over a year after leading them to Serie A glory.
Napoli have signed Romelu Lukaku from Chelsea as Osimhen’s replacement
Osimhen scored 26 league goals in 2022-23 as Napoli claimed their first title in 33 years, and he managed 15 last term, but it proved to be a disastrous campaign for the club.
They finished down in 10th place, missing out on Europe altogether, and Osimhen will not be part of their attempted resurgence this season.