Chelsea are reportedly closing in on another massive transfer as they look to snoop up Napoli’s Victor Osimhen for a record transfer fee. As per football media outlet FourFourTwo, Osimhen has given a nod to sign for the Blues this season. A cleverly structured deal from Chelsea would see the Nigerian arrive in London for a fee exceeding £100 million. A successful deal between Chelsea and Napoli would see Osimhen become the third most expensive player in the English club’s history, behind the likes of Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez. Osimhen is currently preparing for the Africa Cup of Nations. He just recently signed a new deal with Napoli that put his release clause at a whopping £112 million.
Victor Osimhen has been a massive target amongst top European clubs after his pivotal role in Napoli’s Serie A win last season. The Nigerian forward netted 26 goals in 32 league games in the previous season while continuing his form in the ongoing campaign. In the 13 games he has played in the 2023/24 campaign, Osimhen has scored seven goals. However, this season his minutes have been restricted due to an unprecedented injury.
On the other hand, Chelsea have been struggling for form this season, securing just eight wins in the 20 matches played. The club is finding difficulties in finding the back of the net with just 34 goals scored in these matches. They currently boast a mere goal difference of three. Chelsea coach Mauricio Pochetinno believes that such a problem could be easily solved with the addition of a goal-scoring machine like Victor Osimhen. A move would see the 25-year-old replace their current striker Romelu Lukaku at the English club.
Victor Osimhen’s new contract in Naples will keep him in Italy until 2026 but the new contract could very well be just insurance for the Serie A champions. The deal for Osimhen has been reported to take place in the summer transfer window but nothing has been confirmed yet. Chelsea are currently far outside the Premier League top four which means that they could miss out on Champions League football next season. This could potentially hinder Osimhen from joining the Blues this summer.
Meanwhile, Chelsea’s financial situation is still impending a proper assessment. Hence, it would be a little premature to assume that they could potentially finance this gigantic deal. The Londoners’ Financial Fair Play (FFP) concerns could also present another complicated situation, especially after the Premier League limited the rules on amortisation. It was done when UEFA administrators discovered that a loophole was being exploited by the recruitment staff of multiple clubs.
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