Chelsea are willing to pay Napoli star striker, Victor Osimhen a large fee in order to sign him ahead of Premier League rivals Manchester United in the summer transfer window. The Nigerian striker has 21 goals and four assists in 26 appearances across all competitions this season, propelling Napoli to the top of the Serie A table.
After agreeing to terminate Cristiano Ronaldo’s contract ahead of the World Cup in Qatar, United have been heavily linked with a move for Osimhen as they look to replace the five-time Ballon d’Or winner this summer.
The Blues are in need of a clinical number nine this summer, with Romelu Lukaku unlikely to return from his loan at Inter Milan, and both Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Kai Havertz struggling for form in front of goal this season.
Christopher Nkunku is said to have agreed a pre-contract to join Chelsea at the end of the season, which will expand Graham Potter’s attacking options. Todd Boehly is expected to offload a number of first-team players, including Christian Pulisic and Hakim Ziyech, which could pave the way for Osimhen to join the squad – but it will take a massive bid to entice him away from Naples.
In just two transfer windows after the Boehly and Clearlake Capital consortium completed a £4 billion takeover at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea has already spent almost £600 million on new acquisitions. The attack has been strengthened with the additions of Mykhailo Mudryk, Raheem Sterling, Noni Madueke, and Joao Felix, but the Blues have only scored 24 goals in 25 Premier League games this season.
It is obvious that the Blues need a potent striker, and Osimhen would very definitely fill that role. Given his height, quickness, and physicality, the Nigerian is among the finest finishers in Europe this season and possesses all the qualities necessary to succeed in the Premier League.
Calciomercato claims that Boehly will pay Osimhen twice his present salary of €4.5 million (£3.9 million) in order to recruit him ahead of United this summer. In an effort to keep Osimhen for one more season before entering the final year of his current contract, Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis has placed a price tag of €130 million (£115 million) on his star striker.
The article also states that Osimhen’s acquisition has been Erik ten Hag’s top priority this summer due to United’s acute need for a new striker. Marcus Rashford has stepped up since Ronaldo left Old Trafford, but if Ten Hag and Boehly want to get Osimhen, they may have to fork over a British transfer record sum.