Newcastle United have hit the headlines again in Italy after being linked with Napoli goal machine Victor Osimhen.
A claim in this morning's Corriere dello Sport suggests that United have made an £88million enquiry for the Nigerian number 9 who has blasted home 25 goals this season for the Serie A champions-elect. Osimhen has been a sensation in the Italian top-flight since arriving from Lille in 2020.
Osimhen was previously scouted by the Magpies before the takeover but he made a £60million switch to Naples from Ligue 1 side Lille with Rafa Benitez having the forward watched during his Charleroi days but his valuation has soared in recent times. Since he left Lille, Osimhen has attracted plenty of attention from the Premier League with Chelsea and Manchester United linked.
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Newcastle are drawing up their own shortlist for the summer but Napoli supremo Aurelio De Laurentiis has previously briefed journalists he would not sell the Nigeria international for less than £150million.
The 24-year-old is tied to Napoli until 2025 and De Laurentiis recently stated: "I am very good at making contracts, so keeping them here won’t be difficult.
"However, never say never. Sometimes there are offers you can’t refuse, so you never know. To me, we’ll see them shine for a long time."
When asked about potential shortlists, complicated by no concrete assurance of whether the club will in Europe or not next season, Howe said: "It's a difficult one. Depending on what we achieve.
"If we achieve anything, it will affect what are income will be. Financial Fair Play is a very difficult thing is to work out, what we will and won't be able to do. All I will say is FFP will impact us again regardless of what competition we are involved in."
