'Doing fantastic with Nigerian national team' -  Romano provides update on release clause for Osimhen 

Transfer market guru Fabrizio Romano has provided an update on contract talks between Napoli and Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen. 

Romano has praised the Italian champions for keeping hold of Osimhen following the close of the transfer window in most European countries and Saudi Arabia. 

European giants Manchester United, Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain were all interested in signing Osimhen but it appears they were priced out of a move considering that they turned their attention to other targets. 

Al Hilal made an important proposal to bring the 2015 Fifa U17 World Cup top scorer to Saudi Arabia this summer but the Parthenopeans fended off their interest by making an astronomical demand.

Napoli want to extend Osimhen's contract and have offered him a record-breaking salary to prolong his stay, the biggest in the history of the club. 

The 24-year-old has been in brilliant form for club and country, finishing the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers with an impressive ten goals and won the Paolo Rossi award as the leading goalscorer in the Serie A for 2022-2023.

Romano reckons that Osimhen will extend his stay at Napoli with a release clause valid as from next summer inserted into the new deal. 

Speaking on his YouTube page, Romano said: "Also in this negotiation which is very advanced between Napoli and Osimhen to extend the contract and to sign a new deal, the current one expires in summer 2025, it is crucial for Victor Osimhen to have a release clause included.

"Let's follow the story but the feeling of sources is that Osimhen will extend his contract at Napoli but this deal will include a release clause already valid in summer 2024 so let's see the value of this release clause. 

"This is one of the points that the parties are discussing - Osimhen camp and Napoli. The release clause is a crucial point being discussed to reach an agreement between Napoli and Osimhen over a new contract.

"This is a situation to follow in the next days and weeks and could be an important one for summer 2024 for Victor Osimhen who is doing fantastic in Italy but also with the Nigerian national team."

Osimhen was the standout performer in Nigeria's last Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, helping himself to a hat-trick in a 6-0 rout of Island Nation São Tomé and Príncipe in Uyo on Sunday. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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