Victor Osimhen given double punishment from Napoli after failed Chelsea move

Victor Osimhen has been excluded from the Napoli squad and stripped of his no9 shirt after failing to secure a move away to Chelsea.

The Blues made the Nigeria international a top target to lead their attack this summer but the transfer window slammed shut on Friday night with the striker still a Napoli player.

It was reported on Friday evening that Chelsea had offered Osimhen a contract worth €155,000-a-week, less than he is currently paid at Napoli.

But the striker was reluctant to take a pay cut with a Chelsea delegation that had been stationed in Naples leaving the city disappointed.

Osimhen made his intentions to leave Napoli clear earlier this summer but failure to agree a deal with Chelsea has seen Naples take immediate action.

Fabrizio Romano reports he has now been left out of Napoli’s Serie A squad list, with his no9 shirt given to new signing Romelu Lukaku, who completed his permanent move from Chelsea this week.

The Belgium international has been Antonio Conte’s top target throughout the summer and is now reunited with the manager he thrived under at Inter Milan prior to his return to Chelsea in 2021.

The Premier League side re-signed Lukaku for a then-club record fee of £97m.

Osimhen meanwhile also held extensive talks with Al-Ahli and with the Saudi transfer window open until Monday, there is still time to complete a move to the Saudi Pro League.

However, Al-Ahli last night completed the signing of Ivan Toney from Brentford, a situation that is likely to leave Osimhen in limbo until January.

While efforts to sign the Nigerian were unsuccessful, Chelsea did wrap up a deal to sign Jadon Sancho from Manchester United.

The former Borussia Dortmund star joins the Blues on loan in a deal that includes an obligation to buy next summer for a fee between £20m and £25m.