Antonio Conte admits Napoli struggle without Osimhen

 Antonio Conte, has hinted at a possible return for Victor Osimhen as the Italian giants continue to struggle in front of goal with current striker Romelu Lukaku underperforming.

The Partenopei suffered a double blow last week, getting knocked out of the Copa Italia after a 3-1 defeat to Lazio before losing 1-0 to the same opponents in Serie A, consequently surrendering their lead at the top of the table to Atalanta.

Lukaku, who has managed just five goals in 15 appearances this season, has faced criticism from fans and seemingly lost the confidence of his manager, who openly expressed frustration with his team’s attacking prowess.

“We need to improve in this respect, we get there but the final step is missing. We are working on it,” Conte told TMW after their latest defeat.

Meanwhile, Osimhen continues to flourish at Turkish side Galatasaray, where he is currently on loan. The Nigeria international has netted 10 goals and provided five assists in 13 appearances, helping the Istanbul club maintain a six-point lead at the top of the Super Lig with 38 points from 14 matches.

The 25-year-old’s impressive form has not gone unnoticed, with Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United reportedly considering triggering his €75m release clause in January. However, Napoli director Giovanni Manna recently dismissed these reports.

“I already said many times that nobody has talked to us. Victor is owned by Napoli and currently playing for Galatasaray. I think a lot has been said about this, nothing is happening,” Manna told DAZN.

The striker’s potential return to Naples could provide a solution to their attacking problems, with Conte admitting his team needs to be more clinical in the final third.

Osimhen’s latest goal came in Galatasaray’s 3-2 victory at Sivasspor, where he converted a first-half penalty to help the club’s push for a third consecutive league title.

The Super Eagles forward has established himself as a key figure for the Turkish giants since his arrival, with his goalscoring prowess and creative abilities making him an integral part of their domestic campaign.