Victor Osimhen is increasingly stuck at Napoli, and vice versa, as PSG are not selling, Arsenal look at other targets and he is reportedly ‘unenthusiastic’ about the idea of joining Chelsea.
It was always the plan when he signed the lucrative new contract with huge wage increase in December 2023 that he would be sold in the summer, presumably for the €120m release clause.
However, there have been no offers anywhere near that figure and time is running out to find him a solution.
Paris Saint-Germain have come closest to securing the Nigeria international, but they first need to sell either Randal Kolo Muani or Goncalo Ramos to make room.
Arsenal were rumoured to have stepped up their pursuit over the last few days, but seem if anything closer to Viktor Gyokeres or Manchester City striker Julian Alvarez.
The ideal for Napoli would be Chelsea, as they would be able to get Antonio Conte’s first choice Romelu Lukaku as part of the exchange deal.
The Corriere dello Sport claims that Osimhen himself is ‘unenthusiastic’ about the idea of joining the troubled Premier League side.
Everyone is waiting for one of these dominoes to fall, as Osimhen is left out of all five Napoli pre-season friendly matches and Lukaku is training alone at Cobham while his teammates play their USA tour.
Oscar Bobb is reportedly keen to fight for his place at Manchester City next season despite interest from Chelsea.
The 22-year-old scored a beautiful goal against Chelsea on Saturday night in the 4-2 drubbing of the west London club, ending the United States preseason tour with two goals and three assists in four games.
However, transfer expert Ben Jacobs reports that Bobb remains keen to prove his worth at the Etihad Stadium and is ‘content’ with pushing for minutes for the Premier League title holders.
Chelsea are among those who are keen to sign the winger and they have looked at the Norway international as part of their search for a right-winger to compete with Noni Madueke for a place in their starting eleven.
Enzo Maresca, who will have crossed paths with Bobb at City, is said to be an ‘admirer’ of the tricky winger but they will be forced to turn their attention to alternative targets.
Bobb has earned plenty of praise in recent weeks for his displays on the right for City in their pre-season tour of the United States. Former defender Joleon Lescott is among those who have heaped praise on the forward, claiming that he has been a ‘standout’ in the sensational squad.
He said: “I think Oscar’s been the standout performer throughout the three games [of City’s pre-season tour of the United States] so far. I think he’s probably made the most right decisions, regardless of the outcome.
“His decision-making has been perfect and that’s all you can ask for from someone so young – but of any player – if they get into the right positions, what is the outcome?”
Liverpool ended their US pre-season tour in perfect fashion as they swept three past bitter rivals Manchester United, without reply.
Arne Slot enjoyed a comfortable a 3-0 win at Williams-Brice Stadium in his first meeting with United as Liverpool manager thanks to goals from Fábio Carvalho, Curtis Jones and KostasTsimikas.
The Reds’ manager could not have wished for a better pre-season tour if he even tried to.
They have reigned supreme in all three of their matches, which include wins over Arsenal, and now Manchester United.
The scoreline doesn’t tell the whole story, though.
United made life difficult for Arne Slot’s Reds, but some brilliant pieces of goalkeeping, partnered with poor finishing, meant they came away with nothing.
United start their campaign against Manchester City in the Community Shield next week.
And while manager Erik ten Hag will have been pleased with some of the football played in the first half, the Dutchman will be concerned at seeing his team spurn a number of opportunities.
Rasmus Højlund is set to miss the next six weeks with a hamstring injury picked up in the first game of the U.S. tour against Arsenal and without him United couldn’t make the most of their chances.
Jadon Sancho struggled to make an impact as he was deployed as the No.9 for a second game in a row and Ten Hag faces a decision about whether to start new signing Joshua Zirkzee, who is training at Carrington, against City at Wembley.
Ten Hag also has another injury worry after Harry Maguire was left out of the squad as a precaution.
Slot, meanwhile, will be pleased with Mohamed Salah’s involvement. The Egyptian forward looked sharp on Liverpool’s right side and created the second goal for Jones in front of a sell-out crowd of 77,559 in Columbia, the highest ever attendance for a soccer match in the Carolinas.
Liverpool went in at half-time 2-0 up thanks to goals from Carvalho and Jones.
United created chances for Mason Mount, Marcus Rashford — fit enough to start after limping off injured against Real Betis and Sancho, but it was Liverpool who were far more clinical when their opportunities came.
Inside the first 10 minutes, Carvalho collected a pass from Diogo Jota and after jinking past Casemiro in the penalty area, rolled a shot past André Onana and into the far corner.
Liverpool doubled their lead midway through the first half.
Salah got the better of youngster Toby Collyer on the right and crossed for Jones to tap in under pressure from Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Scott McTominay had a golden chance to pull a goal back after half-time but saw his shot well-saved by half-time substitute Vitezslav Jaros.
And United were made to pay again when Jota’s shot was parried by Onana and Tsimikas held off Wan-Bissaka to score at the far post.
Both teams made a host of changes in the second half and Ethan Wheatley would have got on the scoresheet for United but for another good save from Jaros.
It ensured Liverpool ended their tour with a clean sheet while Ten Hag heads home with questions to ponder.
Erling Haaland drove Manchester City to a storming pre-season 4-2 victory over Chelsea in front of over 70,000 fans at Ohio Stadium by scoring a hat-trick.
At times, Pep Guardiola’s men made it look easy, but Chelsea certainly helped them do that.
Six goals, a penalty, a re-taken penalty, a hat-trick, and lots of cards. It’s fair to say, it was eventful.
Haaland showed no signs of the muscle injury he picked up in the 2-2 draw with Barcelona to help Pep Guardiola’s team to a comfortable win over their Premier League rivals.
The Norwegian striker scored twice in the first five minutes in Columbus, Ohio, on what was a worrying night for new Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca, a former City coach, as his players made a number of costly mistakes.
Haaland, again named captain by Guardiola, scored a penalty after four minutes and less than a minute later had his second.
Chelsea’s attempts to play out from the back ended with Moisés Caicedo misplacing a pass and Haaland leapt onto the chance to take a touch into the box and tuck his finish past Robert Sánchez.
Chelsea’s best chance of the half fell to Christopher Nkunku who got behind the City defence, but Stefan Ortega, starting ahead of Éderson, was equal to it and deflected his effort wide.
Oscar Bobb got the third goal soon after half-time before Chelsea gifted City a fourth.
James McAtee won the ball back in midfield and when the ball was worked into Haaland, he scored his third with a clinical left-foot finish.
Former City winger Raheem Sterling and Noni Madueke pulled two goals back for Chelsea to ensure there was no humiliation, but the first hour was a stark reminder to Maresca about the work he still has to do.
City are next in action against Manchester United in the Community Shield at Wembley on Saturday before facing Chelsea again on the opening weekend of the Premier League season.
