Napoli and Chelsea negotiate swap deal for Lukaku and Osimhen
The Belgium forward wants to reunite with Antonio Conte
Napoli and Chelsea are in discussions over a potential swap deal that would involve Romelu Lukaku moving to the Italian club while Victor Osimhen heads to Stamford Bridge. Lukaku, who has spent the last two seasons on loan at Inter Milan and Roma, is set to resume training with Chelsea this week alongside several other players expected to be transferred.
🚨 BREAKING: Napoli are in talks with Chelsea to sign Romelu Lukaku while discussions are also taking place about a move for Victor Osimhen in the opposite direction, reports @David_Ornstein 👀 pic.twitter.com/cVYpmVnINq
— 433 (@433) July 30, 2024
Lukaku, with two years remaining on his Chelsea contract, has reportedly agreed to a three-year deal with Napoli. However, Chelsea is asking for around £30 million for the Belgian striker. Paris Saint-Germain was previously seen as the frontrunner to sign Osimhen, but negotiations with Napoli stalled. Napoli’s president, Aurelio De Laurentiis, insists on meeting Osimhen’s release clause of €130 million, which has complicated the deal.
According to David Ornstein of The Athletic, the current negotiations suggest that Lukaku will join Napoli on a permanent basis. Meanwhile, Osimhen would move to Chelsea on an initial loan with an option for a mandatory purchase next summer.