Napoli boss Antonio Conte has hinted at Victor Osimhen’s potential return as the Italian giants continue to struggle in front of goal, with current striker Romelu Lukaku underperforming.
Last week, the Partenopei suffered a double blow, being knocked out of the Coppa Italia after a 3-1 loss to Lazio and then losing 1-0 to the same opponents in Serie A, ceding their lead at the top of the league to Atalanta.
Lukaku, who has only scored five goals in 15 appearances this season, has come under fire from fans and appears to have lost the trust of his manager, who has openly expressed his dissatisfaction with his team’s attacking capabilities.
“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 continues to thrive at Turkish side Galatasaray, where he is currently on loan. The Nigerian international has netted ten goals and provided five assists in 13 appearances, helping the Istanbul club maintain a six-point lead at the top of the Super Lig with 38 points from 14 games.
The 25-year-old’s remarkable form has not gone unnoticed, with Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United apparently looking into triggering his €75 million release clause in January. However, Napoli’s director Giovanni Manna recently refuted 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 striker’s prospective return to Naples could solve their offensive difficulties, as Conte admits his team has to be more clinical in the final third.
Osimhen’s most recent goal came in Galatasaray’s 3-2 victory over Sivasspor, when he converted a first-half penalty to aid the club’s bid for a third straight league title.
Since his arrival, the Super Eagles attacker has established himself as a prominent figure for the Turkish giants, with his goal-scoring prowess and creative ability making him an important part of their domestic campaign.
