NAPOLI forward Victor Osimhen has been excluded from the team’s Serie A squad list.
The Nigeria international has also been stripped of the number 9 shirt. The number will now be used by Romelu Lukaku who joined the Italian giant from Chelsea FC on a £25.2m (€30m) deal. The move by the Belgian striker sets up a reunion with former manager Antonio Conte.
However, unlike Lukaku, Osimhen was unable to secure a move out of Napoli despite interest from Chelsea FC and Saudi Arabia pro league side, Al Ahli.
According to Fabrice Hawkins, Osimhen’s proposed move to Chelsea fell through. The Nigeria international had been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge on deadline day but the parties were unable to reach an agreement, leaving the 25-year-old in limbo.
Also, Al Ahli have reportedly ended their pursuit of Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen after booking a medical for an alternative target.
According to reports coming out of Italy, Al Ahli have backed out of negotiations with Osimhen, believing that the Super Eagles forward’s future lies elsewhere.
Al Ahli had agreed to a €70 million deal with Napoli for Osimhen’s transfer and was waiting on the Nigerian forward’s reply to their offer of personal terms.
However, the Saudi Arabian club have decided to move on from their hopes of signing Osimhen after it has become apparent that Osimhen does not want to join them this summer.
Al Ahli had always had a contingency plan in case Osimhen did not fancy a move to Saudi Arabia this summer, and will surely now focus their attention on Ivan Toney.
Toney has already agreed on a deal with Al Ahli, while Brentford has also reportedly accepted a €40 million offer from the Saudi club to sell their wantaway striker.
The deal for Toney is in its final stages and the striker is reportedly already set for a medical in London ahead of a deadline day transfer.
Eighteen-Eleven Media