According to a recent report by French news outlet Le10Sport, Premier League giants Chelsea are said to have contacted Ligue 1 outfit LOSC Lille to discuss the potential summer transfer of Nigerian international striker Victor Osimhen. The report suggests that the French club have received multiple firm offers for the striker’s services and that Frank Lampard’s Chelsea are certainly among the clubs said to be interested in his signature.
Contrary to rumours floating around which state that Chelsea are going to hold back on spending amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the report suggests that the reality of the situation is actually the opposite. It has been clarified that the Blues are still extremely eager to sign players in the summer and that they are in a good position regarding the Victor Osimhen signature. Despite the excellent relationship between the two clubs, the Ligue 1 side are said to believe that they can get more than the €80m they got for Pepe from Arsenal.
What Is Chelsea’s Current Strike Situation?
The West London club started the campaign with three recognised strikers for Lampard to choose from. Despite the decent form displayed by Tammy Abraham, the position gradually became an area of concern for the staff and fans alike. For all the excellent work that Abraham did in the early part of the season, an unfortunate back injury forced the Englishman out of the side for quite a while. The gaffer’s alternate options for the role included Olivier Giroud and Michy Batshuayi.
The Belgian was given the opportunity to prove himself first. Although he did get a couple of decent goals along the way, the former Valencia man struggled to have any sort of meaningful impact on the pitch. Olivier Giroud was then brought into the team, and despite his advancing age, the Frenchman came good for the Blues when it mattered most. Although this could be perceived as a good thing, the fact remains that the Blues were uncertain with their striking options for the more than half of the league season, and that’s one mistake they don’t want to make again.
What Would Osimhen Add To This Chelsea Side?
The Nigerian striker has been the talk of the town around Ligue 1 for a while now, and his scoring record this season certainly warrants all the attention he’s been getting. The 21-year-old picked up a stellar record of 13 goals and five assists from 27 league outings this term, while he even scored twice during the group stages of the Champions League. A willing runner, Osimhen is known for his finishing abilities around the box, while he is also one of the more unselfish young strikers in the European game at the moment.
Capable of operating in a variety of systems and boasting different playing styles that he can alternate based on the requirement, Osimhen could be the exact kind of player that this Chelsea team have been calling out for. Adept at timing his runs into space and beating defenders, but equally good at holding the ball up and waiting for teammates, Osimhen would offer Frank Lampard the best of both worlds.
Although this transfer is likely to be expensive, the fact remains that the Nigerian is one of the most exciting talents to come out of Ligue 1 in recent years. The last prodigy that the Blues signed from Lille ended up becoming a club legend, and signing another one could surely be a smart idea.
