Napoli turn to Lille again for Osimhen replacement

Napoli is eyeing a potential move for Lille striker Jonathan David as they consider the departure of Victor Osimhen this summer.

According to Il Mattino, Napoli’s president, Aurelio de Laurentiis, is open to striking another deal with Lille for a striker if Osimhen leaves and a potential suitor meets Napoli’s €160 million valuation.

De Laurentiis has a keen interest in signing players from Asia and the Americas, making David an attractive prospect, although discussions are still in the early stages.

He recently said in an interview, “I’d like to have an American, because in America, even if the championship isn’t worth much, there are great players who shine in the national team. And then a Japanese, while already having a Korean, since there’s a great development of our football in the East and there are new entries to consider. But I wouldn’t want to send any of our players away.”

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While De Laurentiis aims to hold onto players like Osimhen and Kim Min-Jae during the transfer window, he acknowledges the allure of the Premier League and the challenges it presents.

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In addition to David, Atalanta’s Rasmus Højlund and Christopher Nkunku, who appears to be nearing a move to Chelsea, are also on Napoli’s radar.

Regarding other positions that need attention, Napoli has expressed interest in Sassuolo’s Armand Lauriente as a potential replacement for the outgoing Hirving Lozano. Two players from Eintracht Frankfurt, Daichi Kamada, and Jesper Lindstrøm, have caught Napoli’s attention as well.

Furthermore, Napoli has shown interest in Udinese’s Lazar Samardžić and Simone Pafundi, a promising youngster from Friuli who will represent Italy at the Under-20 World Cup.