Antonio Conte wants to replace Victor Osimhen with Romelu Lukaku at Napoli

Chelsea are interested in signing Osimhen

According to Italian media, Antonio Conte and Romelu Lukaku might play together again at Napoli.

A year after leaving Spurs, the former manager of Chelsea and Tottenham looks set to take over as the Partenopei’s next head coach. Although Conte has been linked to almost every major position that has opened up in recent months, the 2023 Serie A champions are already making strong headway in their negotiations with the Italians.

Corriere Della Sera claim that Conte has come to terms with the knowledge that Napoli will be selling star scorer Victor Osimhen this summer and that preparations are being made to provide the new coach with a capable successor. Romelu Lukaku is one of the footballers on the list of possibilities.

Even if Chelsea desires Osimhen, a straight trade between the two players is quite unlikely. Napoli will push for Osimhen’s €130 million release clause to be activated. Nevertheless, Lukaku’s signing would be a huge favour for Conte and his colleagues.

Even though Conte was once Chelsea’s coach, Lukaku is more familiar with him from his Inter days than from his stint at Stamford Bridge. Under the Italian coach, the Belgian striker scored 64 goals and provided 17 assists in 95 games in just two seasons.

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The 31-year-old’s play at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona is what spurred Chelsea to spend €113 million to re-sign him, and Napoli will be hoping he can replicate some of that output.

Lukaku has spending the previous season on loan at AS Roma, but it doesn’t seem likely that Chelsea are going to be able to make his time there definitive. He is still on the payroll at Chelsea after an extension fell through last summer.

Although the attacker has admirers in Saudi Arabia, Lukaku will undoubtedly be drawn to staying in Europe. Napoli will have sufficient funds to pay €45 million if they are able to sell Osimhen. The Nigerian is wanted by Chelsea.

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