Chelsea are among the clubs in the mix for Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen, who has been tipped to leave Napoli after the club failed to qualify for the Champions League

Roberto Calenda, the agent of Napoli and Nigeria star Victor Osimhen, has called for respect amid reports of an exchange involving the striker and Chelsea's Romelu Lukaku.

Osimhen, who finished as Serie A's top scorer as Napoli won the Scudetto in 2022-23, has been linked with a move away from Stadio Diego Armando Maradona this summer. Napoli's title defence ended with them missing out on European qualification, with Chelsea among the clubs looking to pounce.

Blues striker Lukaku has been linked with a move in the opposite direction after spending last season on loan at Roma. Antonio Conte, who has taken over as Napoli boss ahead of the upcoming season, got the best out of Lukaku at Inter Milan and could be reunited with the Belgian.

Calenda has been keeping abreast of all the updates. However, he was quick to put the situation in perspective for those speculating over Osimhen's future.

The agent's comments follow plenty of speculation over Osimhen's future. Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal have also been linked with the 25-year-old, who joined Napoli from Lille in 2020.

According to The Athletic, one option being explored is a loan to Chelsea with an option to buy for Osimhen, and a permanent move to Napoli for Lukaku. The last time Conte and Lukaku worked together, they won the Scudetto with Inter in the 2020-21 season with the Belgium international scoring 24 league goals.

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Romelu Lukaku could end up replacing Osimhen in Naples ( Image:

"I know what the situation is regarding Osimhen," Napoli boss Conte said upon being unveiled as manager of the club. "I know that there are agreements, that it is a situation different from all the others. I can only assist.

"He is a player of the highest level, exceptional, but I cannot enter into any discussion because it is part of previous agreements which have been clearly stated to me."

Conte left Osimhen out of Napoli's team for a pre-season friendly against Albanian side Egnatia over the weekend. The Italian side ran out 4-0 winners thanks to goals from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Matteo Politano, Giovanni Simeone and Cyril Ngonge.