The transfer market is heating up between Napoli and Chelsea, as the Premier League club sets its sights on acquiring Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen. Following the agreement for Romelu Lukaku’s transfer to Napoli, Chelsea are now turning its attention to Osimhen, aiming to bring him to Stamford Bridge under the guidance of manager Enzo Maresca.
Calciomercato report how in recent days, Chelsea have been actively exploring the possibility of signing Osimhen. The club’s sporting director, Giovanni Manna, recently traveled to England to assess the situation. Yesterday, Chelsea made further progress by initiating direct contact with Osimhen’s representatives, signaling their intent to submit a formal offer to Napoli.
Initially, Chelsea proposed a loan deal for Osimhen, but this was promptly rejected by Napoli’s president, Aurelio De Laurentiis, who deemed the offer unacceptable. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Chelsea are now preparing a bid for a permanent transfer. “Chelsea’s management has contacted Roberto Calenda, Osimhen’s agent, and Napoli to express their intention to make an offer for a permanent acquisition of the former Lille player,” the report stated.
The proposed offer from Chelsea is expected to be between €65 million and €70 million, aligning with a previous offer from Al-Ahli. Despite Chelsea’s interest, Al-Ahli remains in the picture, having already reached a preliminary agreement with Napoli. However, they are still working to convince Osimhen, who is seeking a substantial salary and a release clause as part of any deal with the Saudi Pro League club.
Osimhen’s preference appears to be a move to Chelsea, but should negotiations with the Blues fall through, the possibility of a transfer to Saudi Arabia could gain traction. As the transfer window deadline approaches, all eyes are on Chelsea to see if they can finalize the deal for Osimhen, who has become a top priority for the London club.
