Al-Ahli can only sign one between Victor Osimhen and Ivan Toney, so the Brentford striker is Plan B in case the Napoli star backs out, with Chelsea hovering.
Multiple sources this morning reported that Napoli had shaken hands with Al-Ahli in a deal worth €80m including add-ons for the Nigeria international.
Crucially, they also noted that Osimhen had agreed personal terms with a contract worth €40m per season, plus a decisive release clause for well under €100m that would be active from the summer of 2026.
However, considering Chelsea are also still in the mix for the Napoli forward, Al-Ahli seem to be covering their backs with an alternative deal.
Al-Ahli don’t trust Osimhen
Brentford accepted a €45m offer for Toney, but the Saudi Pro League club only has one slot left to bring in a foreign player, so cannot sign both.
The issue with Osimhen and Chelsea has always been the same for many weeks, namely that the player absolutely refuses to accept a pay cut from the €10m per season he agreed with Napoli in December 2023.
That salary is also why Napoli are so desperate to sell him this summer, even at considerably less than the €130m release clause.
If Chelsea were to find a way through their salary cap to pay for that, then Osimhen could well turn towards Stamford Bridge.
No club could trust ‘Oh-She-Meh’. Though if he ‘turns his back’, he will most likely pull a muscle and then need an ice pack and back support as part of the deal.