Agent admits Tottenham and Liverpool wanted player ‘until the end’

Victor Osimhen’s agent Roberto Calenda has admitted that Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool fought Napoli until the end for the Nigerian striker’s signature.

The Lille striker, who has had a sensational debut season in Ligue 1, has reportedly been on Spurs’ radar since the January transfer window (Sky Sports).

Reports previously indicated that the North Londoners had made a £62million offer to sign the Lille star this summer (Radio Kiss Kiss via Area Napoli).

However, it was Napoli who eventually won the race for the 21-year-old’s signature as the Serie A side agreed on a deal with Lille reportedly worth an initial £63m excluding add-ons at the end of last month (ESPN).

Calenda has now admitted that Gennaro Gattuso’s side were engaged in negotiations with Lille for some time and that their pursuit of the Osimhen was anything but straight forward, with both Spurs as well as Liverpool pushing until the end to sign the striker.

Speaking about his client’s transfer to Naples, he told Radio Marte: “Osimhen was an obsession of Giuntoli, Napoli and their President. Napoli did everything to get him.

“The negotiation was exhausting. I can say that it was a well-conducted negotiation by the parties, which began long ago.

“It was a difficult operation, Tottenham and Liverpool wanted Osimhen until the end, even Barcelona initially wanted him to replace Suarez. But Napoli did everything, they wanted him and took him.”

Spurs Web Opinion

Multiple sources did report that our interest in Osimhen was genuine and that we made considerable bids in the hope of signing him. This speculation, along with the rumoured offers we have had turned down for Zaniolo, suggests that the money is available in case the right player becomes available this summer. I suspect the club are expecting to have a significant cash influx through Ndombele’s sale.

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