'It's a path to follow'  - Transfer guru Marchetti on Chelsea -owned striker Lukaku replacing Osimhen 

Speaking to Radio Marte, Sky Sport Italia transfer market expert Luca Marchetti has revealed important details about the future of Victor Osimhen who is expected to depart Napoli at the end of the 2023-2024 season.

The Nigeria national teamer has been linked with possible moves to Arsenal, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain.

Osimhen signed a new deal with Napoli last December with a release clause of 130 million euros inserted into the contract.

It has been suggested that Romelu Lukaku would be used as a makeweight in any proposed deal bringing the Nigerian to Stamford Bridge in the summer. 

It is very clear that the former Manchester United and Everton striker is not in the plans of the Chelsea coaches with back-to-back loan spells at Italian duo Inter Milan and AS Roma, so the Blues are looking to get him off their books permanently this summer. 

Luca Marchetti believes Napoli want Chelsea to include Lukaku as a makeweight in the deal for Osimhen to avoid being blackmailed. 

The Little Donkeys have started preparing for life without the Nigerian and have also identified Girona's Artem Dovbyk, Sporting CP's Viktor Gyökeres and Lille's Jonathan David among the strikers who could replace the Nigerian. 

On the possibility of Lukaku replacing Osimhen, Luca Marchetti was quoted as saying by Spazio Napoli: "It is a path to follow, because we need to create a market around Osimhen : it is an operation that Napoli must do. PSG was busy with the Champions League yesterday, there are no contacts yet.

"It is right that Napoli finds alternative paths so as not to be grabbed by the throat by the potential buyer , thanks to the Nigerian's desire to leave.

"However, Lukaku is not a clue to Conte's possible arrival, just as he was not a clue for Roma last season.

"Dovbyk, Gyökeres, David are excellent players, it remains to be seen whether they will remain competitive even in a different country and a different way of playing as Italian football predicts."

Reigning African Footballer of the Year, Osimhen has scored seventeen goals from thirty all-competition appearances so far this season, while producing four assists.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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