Victor Osimhen is holding Napoli hostage as his transfer saga drags on after the Italian club failed to protect themselves when they agreed on a new contract with the striker last year.

Italian journalist Enrico Varriale said when Osimhen signed his new contract that included a release clause and a new hefty salary, Napoli ought to have got the player’s agent to guarantee a club will buy him on those terms.

“Napoli are being held hostage by Osimhen,” Varriale told Radio Punto Zero. “After the release clause and new salary was agreed, there should have been an agreement between the agent (of Osimhen) and the club with the club ready to buy him.”