Napoli deny trying to replace Osimhen with €100m-rated ex-Arsenal target

Napoli's sporting director Giovanni Manna has unequivocally dismissed rumours linking the club with a move for Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres, who is a one-time target for Arsenal.

The Swedish striker had been linked to a move to Napoli to replace Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen, and in response to the speculation, Manna gave a one-word rebuttal: "Impossible."

The Napoli director’s words put an end to rumours about the Partenopei's pursuit of the €100m-rated former Arsenal target, as they focus on evaluating other options in the transfer market.

The future of Osimhen plays a crucial role in the club's transfer strategy as the Nigerian forward has a release clause in his contract reportedly worth €130m, which Napoli will hope to reinvest in the squad.

Despite ongoing speculation linking him with a move to Paris Saint-Germain as a potential replacement for Kylian Mbappe, there have been no formal offers submitted for Osimhen and the uncertainty surrounding Osimhen's future makes it highly unlikely that Napoli will submit a bid for Gyokeres.

In addition to lacking the financial muscle to pull off a deal for Gyokeres, Napoli appears more inclined to pursue other targets, especially Chelsea’s Romelu Lukaku, who has spent the last two seasons on loan in Serie A with Inter and Roma.

Napoli is reportedly interested in reuniting Lukaku with manager Antonio Conte, who has previously worked with the Belgian striker at Inter, winning the Scudetto in 2021. This interest in Lukaku suggests that Napoli is exploring different avenues to bolster their attacking options without spending a massive sum on a player like Gyokeres.