Napoli manager Antonio Conte has hinted at a potential return for Victor Osimhen as the Italian club struggles with their attacking form, while current striker Romelu Lukaku has underperformed.
The Partenopei endured a tough week, being eliminated from the Copa Italia with a 3-1 loss to Lazio, followed by a 1-0 defeat to the same team in Serie A, which saw them relinquish their lead at the top of the table to Atalanta.
Lukaku, who has scored only five goals in 15 appearances this season, has faced heavy criticism from fans and appears to have lost the trust of his manager, who has voiced frustration with the team’s lack of offensive firepower.
“We need to improve in this respect, we get there but the final step is missing. We are working on it,” Conte told TMW after their latest defeat.
Meanwhile, Osimhen is enjoying a stellar spell at Turkish club Galatasaray, where he is currently on loan. The Nigerian forward has scored 10 goals and provided 5 assists in 13 appearances, playing a key role in helping the Istanbul side maintain a six-point lead at the top of the Super Lig with 38 points from 14 matches.
The 25-year-old’s outstanding performances have attracted the attention of Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United, with both clubs reportedly contemplating activating his €75m release clause in January. However, Napoli director Giovanni Manna has recently dismissed these rumours.
“I already said many times that nobody has talked to us. Victor is owned by Napoli and currently playing for Galatasaray. I think a lot has been said about this, nothing is happening,” Manna told DAZN.
The potential return of the striker to Naples could offer a solution to their attacking woes, with Conte acknowledging that his team needs to be more clinical in front of goal.
Osimhen’s most recent goal came in Galatasaray’s 3-2 win at Sivasspor, where he scored a first-half penalty to aid the club’s bid for a third consecutive league title.
Since his arrival, the Super Eagles forward has become a key figure for the Turkish giants, with his goalscoring ability and creative contributions making him an indispensable part of their domestic campaign.