Napoli’s star striker, Victor Osimhen, is set to miss the upcoming Serie A match against Fiorentina, raising concerns about his availability for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers, according to sources reported by The PUNCH.
Osimhen was absent from Wednesday’s training session due to a muscular issue, limiting his participation to personalized gym exercises and physiotherapy. Piotr Zielinski and Mario Rui also trained separately, while Jens Lindstrom rejoined the squad.
Having already scored an impressive 15 goals in Serie A this season, Osimhen has been plagued by various injuries, including his absence during the Africa Cup of Nations in January and February. If he fails to recover in time for Friday’s match, Giacomo Raspadori or Giovanni Simeone may step in as the center-forward.
Napoli recently slipped behind Fiorentina in the Serie A standings after suffering a 2-0 defeat against Bologna. A victory in Florence is crucial for Napoli’s chances of securing at least an eighth-place finish or qualifying for the Conference League.
However, the absence of last year’s Capocannoniere, Osimhen, significantly weakens Coach Francesco Calzona’s squad. The extent of the 25-year-old’s injury and his availability for next month’s World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and Benin Republic remains uncertain. Additionally, Samuel Chukwueze and Bright Osayi-Samuel are also doubtful for the qualifiers.
In Group C, Nigeria currently sits in third place, trailing behind Rwanda and South Africa, both of whom have accumulated four points from two games.
In other news, there are reports suggesting Chelsea’s interest in acquiring the services of the 25-year-old Nigerian striker during the upcoming summer transfer window. According to TEAMtalk, Osimhen is eager to make a move to Stamford Bridge and is awaiting Chelsea’s formal offer to Napoli.
Osimhen is highly regarded as one of the world’s top strikers and would be a valuable addition to Chelsea’s squad. However, his transfer would come with a hefty price tag, as his Napoli contract includes a release clause worth £113m.
With 17 goals in all competitions this season, Osimhen could potentially solve Chelsea’s goal-scoring woes in the upcoming campaign. The Nigerian forward would serve as a significant upgrade over Nicolas Jackson, who was brought in last summer but has struggled to consistently find the back of the net.
While Osimhen has attracted interest from clubs like Paris Saint-Germain, his preference is believed to be a move to the Premier League
