Napoli have shortlisted Atalanta’s Rasmus Hojlund and Lille’s Jonathan David amid a search for possible Victor Osimhen replacements, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.
The Paolo Rossi award winner is one of the hottest and most sought-after players in the summer transfer market, with no shortage of interest from suitors across Europe.
Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Real Madrid, and Manchester United have all been linked with a potential move for the Nigerian marksman.
However, Napoli have remained steadfast in their stance that Osimhen is not for sale, with the Scudetto champions keen to keep their 26-goal striker for at least one more season.
They have already opened talks with Osimhen’s representatives about a new contract, but the player’s wage demands could throw a spanner in the works.
Osimhen wants a significant pay rise that will see him earn more than his current €4.5 million per year, but Napoli are unwilling to break their wage structure to appease him.
His contract runs until 2025, and Napoli are hoping their staggering €150m asking price will ward off interest in the former Lille man, but interested clubs are circling nonetheless.
Despite their seemingly unwavering stance on Osimhen’s future, the Serie A champions want to put an alternative in place if one of the potential suitors tables a bid they consider too good to turn down.
Hojlund has been touted as an option, but the highly-rated Danish youngster is also attracting interest from Chelsea and Man United.
Atalanta are unwilling to see the striker leave the Gewiss Stadium just one year after stepping into the limelight and are demanding a whopping €100m to ward off interest in the 20-year-old.
Napoli have also sounded out an interest in David who has been widely tipped to leave Lille this summer after netting 24 times in the French top flight last season.
