Napoli await Osimhen while the future is uncertain

Osimhen, who placed eighth in the Ballon d’Or competition this year, has publicly expressed his “dream” of playing in the Premier League; reports suggest that Manchester United and Chelsea are interested in signing the Nigerian.

As speculation about Napoli striker Victor Osimhen’s future with the Serie A champions grows, Osimhen is scheduled to return to Italy next week to continue his recuperation from injury.

Osimhen, the eighth-place finisher in this year’s Ballon d’Or voting, has openly expressed his desire to play in the Premier League, with reports indicating that Manchester United and Chelsea are interested in signing the Nigerian.

Since suffering a hamstring injury during a friendly match against Saudi Arabia on October 13, the 24-year-old has been sidelined.

He was given permission to travel to Nigeria in order to settle personal matters, but he is anticipated to return to the team shortly in order to be fully fit by the end of the month.

“Victor will be joining us next week after taking a leave of absence. The specialists will provide me with specifics on his condition from a clinical standpoint, Rudi Garcia, the Napoli coach, stated on Friday.

“That’s my role and my main job, so I’m interested in all of my men, but especially in regards to when I’ll have them available.”

Napoli, who had a lacklustre start to the season and are currently seven points behind leaders Inter Milan, will be hoping to improve on their performance against Salernitana, a regional rival and bottom team now led by former Italy player Filippo Inzaghi, on Saturday.

Prior to their match at Salzburg on Wednesday, Inter will travel to Atalanta for a challenging test. A win would advance them to the Champions League round of 16.

After suffering their only loss of the season, a 4-2 setback at Sassuolo in September, Juventus had gone five games without conceding in order to move up to second place.

Sunday, Massimiliano Allegri’s team travels to Fiorentina in search of a fifth straight victory as a team devoid of European responsibilities this year.

Before a pivotal Champions League match at home against Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan will be hoping that the arrival of Udinese, a team without a win, may help them get back on track.

After losing to Juventus and then letting a two-goal lead slip in their draw in Naples last weekend, Milan has fallen from first place in Serie A.

They have lost their last three European games, but if they defeat PSG on Tuesday at the San Siro, they might immediately find themselves back in the mix.

Keep an eye on Matias Soule.

Since going on loan to Frosinone in August, the Argentine winger has made a great impression, aiding the Serie B winners of the previous campaign in what is only their third-ever appearance in the top division.

In his last five games, the 20-year-old has scored five goals, including a brace in Frosinone’s heartbreaking 4-3 loss at Cagliari last Saturday, where they let a three-goal lead slip away in the closing 20 minutes.

Due to his performance in the under-20 World Cup this year, Soule, an Argentina young international, has raised rumours that his parent club Juventus may recall him in January.

In addition, he reportedly informed Luciano Spalletti, the manager of Italy, that although if he is eligible to play for the Azzurri, he intends to remain with Argentina.

Key stats
3 – Iceland’s Albert Gudmundsson has scored the opening goal of a game three times this season for Genoa. He also grabbed an extra-time winner in the Coppa Italia midweek against Reggiana.

5 – Monza are unbeaten at home in five games this term. Only Juventus and Atalanta have also yet to lose at home.

9 – Bologna are unbeaten in nine games, the club’s longest such run since November 2008-January 2009 when the late Sinisa Mihajlovic was coach.

Serie A Fixtures (all times GMT)

Friday

Bologna v Lazio (1945)

Saturday

Salernitana v Napoli (1400), Atalanta v Inter Milan (1700), AC Milan v Udinese (1945)

Sunday

Hellas Verona v Monza (1130), Cagliari v Genoa (1400), Roma v Lecce (1700), Fiorentina v Juventus (1845)

Monday

Frosinone v Empoli (1730), Torino v Sassuolo (1945)

AFP