Victor Osimhen has handed in a transfer request at Napoli, the club have confirmed.
The Nigerian international has long been linked with a move away from the club, having joined them from Lille in the summer of 2020.
Chelsea have held a long-standing interest in Osimhen and Standard Sport understands they have previously held talks with the Italian side over a potential swap deal involving Romelu Lukaku.
New Napoli manager Antonio Conte is keen to reunite with Lukaku after the pair won Serie A together at Inter Milan in 2021, with the Belgian striker having struggled since returning to Stamford Bridge later that year.
Paris Saint-Germain were previously thought to have been leading the race for Osimhen but their talks are believed to have stalled over a fee.
It remains to be seen whether or not Chelsea do eventually make a move, with the Blues having previously been unwilling to pay his release clause, believed to be worth over £100m.
Still, Osimhen is determined to leave Naples this summer and sporting director Giovanni Manna confirmed over the weekend: “Victor Osimhen has asked to leave the club. He wants to go.
“The situation is clear, there were already chances for his exit last summer. Victor wants to leave. We will see in the next 20 days.”
