Liverpool must pay N151bn for Osimhen due to Saudi Arabia’s PIF – report

Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis has reportedly set Victor Osimhen’s price tag at €180m ( about N151bn) and Gazzetta highlights that it’s a ‘legitimate’ request considering Saudi Arabia’s PIF investments in football, including the purchase of Sandro Tonali.

Osimhen became Serie A’s Capocannoniere in 2022-23, scoring 26 goals in 32 appearances and providing vital help to Napoli’s first Scudetto in 33 years.

Napoli would like to extend his contract, but many top European clubs are interested in the Nigeria international, especially Liverpool and Bayern Munich, Gazzetta confirms.

Wednesday’s printed edition of the pink paper (page 10) analyses his transfer status and comments on ADL’s asking price.

Journalist Sebastiano Vernazza wrote that Napoli’s request is ‘legitimate’ considering the huge investments made by Saudi Arabia’s PIF who control Newcastle United and the Saudi Pro League.

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‘They will pay €80m for Tonali and give €200m per season to Cristiano Ronaldo, while shouldn’t Osimhen be worth €180m?’ asked Vernazza.

The journalist noted that the Saudi ‘bubble will explode sooner or later’, but in the meantime is legitimate that ADL keeps Osimhen’s price tag high especially because the Partenopei are not struggling financially and are in no rush to sell.

Perhaps, somebody will pay that fee, concluded Vernazza, ‘picking among Arabia, Real Madrid, PSG and Premier League clubs’ who have the financial power to match ADL’s demands.