PSG willing to spend €100M in Nigeria international

After a disappointing season, even though PSG can still claim a historic 11th Ligue 1 title as soon as this weekend, the Parisian club is already working to build a stronger squad ahead of next year. Sporting advisor Luis Campos, along with the rest of the Paris Saint-Germain board, has reportedly targeted the replacement for the departing Lionel Messi and is willing to pay in excess of €100m to land him.

Clearly determined to bolster the PSG squad, particularly on the offensive side, Luis Campos has eyed several options to support the face of the project in Kylian Mbappe. The freshest player to pop up in the rumor mill with a serious chance of landing in Paris next summer is Nigeria international and Napoli striker Victor Osimhen.

Osimhen, 24 years old and under contract with Napoli until June 2025, is coming off a remarkable season at Napoli in which he's scored 28 goals to date while providing 5 assists in 36 games across all competitions. Napoli, mostly thanks to Osimhen's contributions, have won the Serie A for the first time since Diego Maradona played for the club in the 1989-90 season.

According to the latest reports from RMC Sport, Osimhen and his agent are "actively considering offers," including one from PSG. The Parisian club has identified the Nigerian international as their primary target to bolster their attacking options this summer, and RMC reports that "discussions between Luis Campos and the player's agent, who share a good rapport, are ongoing."

However, securing Osimhen's services won't be an easy task. Napoli's president, Aurelio De Laurentiis, is known for driving a hard bargain and has set a hefty price tag of €150 million for the coveted striker. Furthermore, the terms of payment demanded by Napoli could pose challenges for potential buyers.

PSG, aiming to outmaneuver Manchester United in this pursuit, is reportedly willing to offer €100m for Osimhen. Meanwhile, the Premier League side are also keen on the Nigerian forward and are expected to make their move in the coming weeks, although it's believed they won't be able or willing to pay such a hefty fee.

That said, Osimhen's personal preference for the Premier League above landing in any other competition across Europe could sway the scales in Manchester United's favor. That doesn't rule out signing with PSG, but he'd opt for the Mancunian side if both organizations offer him similar deals.

Ultimately, the success of PSG's pursuit of Osimhen will depend on the persuasive skills of Luis Campos, who previously brought the striker to Lille in 2019. The negotiations between PSG and Napoli are likely to be complex and challenging, so expect a long transfer saga dragging into the hottest months of the summer.

However, PSG's eagerness to reinforce their attacking lineup and their willingness to invest a significant sum demonstrates their determination to strengthen their squad ahead of the upcoming season, let alone having to cover the exit of Lionel Messi for free in a few weeks and a potential sale of multiple faces of the squad in Neymar and Marco Verratti.

It's fair to assume that Victor Osimhen will be involved in one of many sagas this summer and that PSG will inevitably be in the middle of it all considering their need for improvements all across their lineup. Whether or not the club ends up ponying up as much money as Napoli demand for their striker, though, is an entirely different matter.