Despite Victor Osimhen’s unwavering commitment to Napoli, the Serie A champions have reportedly pinpointed Arsenal’s striker, Gabriel Jesus, as a potential replacement for the Nigerian forward, according to PUNCH Sports Extra.
Osimhen’s future at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona has become uncertain due to controversy stemming from Napoli’s TikTok account.
The club’s official account faced backlash for two posts seemingly mocking Osimhen, one poking fun at his penalty miss against Bologna and another comparing him to a coconut.
In response, Osimhen’s agent threatened legal action against the Serie A champions, who stopped short of offering an apology.
There has been speculation of the 24-year-old leaving Napoli at the end of the season, with some even suggesting a possible departure as early as January.
However, Osimhen, in a statement on social media, expressed his commitment to Napoli and its fans.
Nonetheless, doubts now linger about whether he will sign a new contract with the club, despite his current deal running until 2025. Notably, Chelsea and other clubs have shown interest in him.
Napoli’s president, Aurelio de Laurentiis, has publicly expressed confidence in Osimhen signing a new contract.
Nevertheless, reports suggest that Napoli is preparing contingency plans in case Osimhen departs in January or at the end of the season.
The report mentions that Gabriel Jesus is one of the potential targets, alongside Atletico Madrid’s Alvaro Morata and Lille’s Jonathan David.
Gabriel Jesus, who joined Arsenal from Manchester City in the summer of 2022, has been dealing with injuries but has managed to make 41 competitive appearances, tallying 14 goals and eight assists for Mikel Arteta’s side.
Morata, previously with Juventus, has had a strong start to the season with seven goals in eight games for Atletico.
Jonathan David has scored four times in 11 games this season and is also a target for AC Milan in addition to Napoli.
