Italian football administrator Fabio Lupo has stated that despite having some quality players, Napoli will struggle if Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen leaves in the summer, Soccernet.ng reports.
Osimhen has been brilliant for Napoli in the last two years at Napoli. Last season, the Nigerian attacker scored 26 goals for the Partenopeans to help them to their first Scudetto in 33 years.
After his heroics with the Partenopeans, the 25-year-old striker was linked with an exit. However, Napoli held on to him and got him to sign an extension.
Still, the talks have not stopped, and it seems likely that the Nigerian will exit by the end of the season, with PSG and Arsenal touted as likely destinations.
If Osimhen leaves, the only out-and-out striker will be Giovanni Someone, who has not shown that he can carry the club.
Lupo, who works as a football administrator, is quite pessimistic about the aftermath of Osimhen’s likely departure from Napoli, and he believes the club will struggle.
“Osimhen’s farewell in itself is a step in the dark for Napoli. Just look at what happened in the two months in which he was absent. They are players who make the difference. Replacing him will be difficult,” Lupo said per Napoli Magazine.
Several names have been touted as potential replacements for Osimhen. Napoli have been linked with Joshua Zirkzee and Jonathan David, and they would use the proceeds from Osimhen’s transfer to fund a replacement.