New Napoli boss Rudi Garcia doesn’t want to part ways with Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen and Georgian winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
According to Italian publications, La Gazzetta dello Sport and Il Corriere dello Sport, the French coach has already informed President Aurelio De Laurentiis that he doesn’t want to sell Osimhen and his strike partner in the summer.
It is understood that the Partenopei won’t sell the Nigeria international for less than €150-160m and will offer him a contract extension in the coming weeks.
According to Gazzetta, Jonathan David of Lille is Napoli’s main target if Osimhen leaves.
There are no doubts that South Korea international Kim will leave the Stadio Maradona in July, with Bayern Munich ahead of Man United in the race for the 26-year-old.
Gazzetta claims Atalanta’s Giorgio Scalvini is Garcia’s favourite target to replace Kim, although the likes of Kevin (Lens), Hiroki Ito (Stuttgart), Kou Itakura (Borussia Mönchengladbach) and Dávid Hancko (Feyenoord) are also being monitored by the Serie A champions.
Garcia will be unveiled by Napoli at a press conference on Monday afternoon.
Osimhen’s 31 goal contributions (26 goals and five assists) from 32 appearances in the league helped Napoli win the Serie A title for the first time in 33 years, and he also became the first African to win the Capocannoniere, the Serie A top scorer award.
The striker also broke a 14-year jinx of being the first player since Zlatan Ibrahimovic to win the Scudetto and the Capocannoniere same season.
His impressive performance has attracted several clubs in Europe, with Manchester United, Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid all reportedly in the race to sign the forward, whose contract expires in 2025.
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