According to Gazzetta dello Sport (27/11/22 as relayed by Football Italia), Napoli are looking to use a loophole in the Italian legal system to raise the salary of rumoured Tottenham target Victor Osimhen and keep him at the club.
Osimhen has been in terrific form during the first part of the 2022-23 campaign, having found the back of the net 10 times across all competitions (Transfermarkt).
Italian journalist Rudy Galetti said earlier this month that Spurs have their eye on the Nigerian international and this has been backed up by Enrico De Lellis, who previously told Calciomercato.it that the 23-year-old is the ‘real goal’ of Antonio Conte’s side.
Gazzetta have now explained that Napoli expect big-money offers to arrive from the Premier League for Osimhen, with Manchester United and Newcastle United also thought to be admirers of the striker.
The Serie A table toppers are thus said to be exploring the so-called ‘Stability Decree’, which would allow them to increase the former Lille star’s salary without incurring a higher cost to the club.
The report explains that Osimhen currently earns €4.5m (£3.8m) per season, for which Napoli would usually have to pay €9m (£7.7m) before tax but thanks to the aforementioned decree, they only pay the striker less than €6m (£5.1m).
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While Napoli expected the decree to lapse soon since it is no longer applicable after five years (until 2025 in Osimshen’s case), companies are allowed to stretch its duration if an employee has a child and owns a house in the country.
Since both conditions apply to Osimhen, whose daughter was born in October, the Italian club plan on beginning talks with the player’s representatives over a pay rise.
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Even if Osimhen were to become available, one would expect Manchester United and potentially a club like Chelsea to pay more for the striker than Spurs because those clubs are more in need of a centre-forward.
With Richarlison demonstrating in the World Cup that he is quite effective as a central striker, Spurs do not really need to break the bank for another number nine, unless there is a real danger of Kane leaving the club.
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