“He can score three goals with two touches” - Fabio Cannavaro rates 25-year-old striker ahead of Chelsea forward Romelu Lukaku
Italy legend Fabio Cannavaro believes Napoli would be contenders for the Serie A title if they keep Victor Osimhen and not replace him with Chelsea star Romelu Lukaku. He added that the Nigerian star needed fewer chances than the Belgian to score.
Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport, Cannavaro stated that Napoli can challenge Inter Milan for the title next season, but they need to keep hold of Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. He believes that the two will be key for Antonio Conte's side and said:
"Napoli, if they keep Osimhen and Kvara. Osi can score three goals with two touches; he's unpredictable and needs fewer chances than Lukaku [to score]. Conte always puts the players in the best position and Oriali will be an added value."
Conte's assistant manager, Cristian Stellini, recently spoke about the attributes Osimhen's potential replacement should have, saying (via Football-Italia):
"I would choose a striker with strong physical presence, very much like Victor. He should have multiple different skills, with characteristics meaning he can both score goals and get the best out of his teammates in attack too."
Osimhen is reportedly a target for Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) this summer, but both clubs are said to be unwilling to activate his €120 million release clause.
Antonio Conte wanted to sign Romelu Lukaku at Chelsea
Antonio Conte spoke to The Telegraph in February earlier this year and admitted that he wanted to work with Romelu Lukaku at Chelsea. He coached the Belgian striker at Inter Milan and they won the league title before the two departed in the same summer.
Conte spoke about how he wanted to add Lukaku and Virgil van Dijk to his squad at Stamford Bridge and said (via GOAL):
"My history says that I always arrived at my clubs in a difficult situation with problems. I always build. After my first season at Chelsea, when we won the title, we could have become dominant in England. We spoke with (Romelu) Lukaku and (Virgil) van Dijk, and with those two important players we could have changed the situation."
Lukaku played 95 matches under Conte while they were at Inter Milan. The striker scored 64 times in those games while also assisting 17 goals.