If a report from the Catalan news outlet El Nacional is believed to be true, Chelsea are keen on Napoli sensation Victor Osimhen to bolster themselves high up the pitch. The Napoli striker is in blistering form with 9 goals scored already this campaign in 13 appearances across competitions.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria international was on Real Madrid‘s radar prior to his mega-money move to Napoli back in July 2020. The Serie A giants paid a club-record fee of €70m (potentially rising to €80 million with add-ons) to secure his services and the Spanish giants, struggling financially in the wake of the pandemic, failed to match or surpass Gli Azzurri’s offer to Lille.
The 22-year-old attacker had a tough time at VfL Wolfsburg. But a successful loan spell with Charleroi in Belgium earned him the limelight in European football. Although the Belgian outfit tied him down on permanent terms, French side Lille offered a hefty figure within weeks to tie him down in a long-term contract. His stakes kept on rising after a promising 2019-20 season and the team from Naples eventually won the race despite a long-standing interest from the Blues.
Why Chelsea Would Benefit From The Osimhen Deal
Chelsea have been big spenders over the years and the club’s director Marina Granovskaia is ready to splash the cash once again in the forthcoming future. She has been an admirer of Osimhen since his Lille days and the ongoing conundrum in the attacking third might lead to this further addition irrespective of Romelu Lukaku, Kai Havertz and Timo Werner’s presence.
In spite of a majestic start, Lukaku is struggling with form and fitness concerns of late. Werner has often been criticized for his wastefulness, whereas Havertz is yet to mature as a ‘False 9’ or second striker. A player of Lukaku’s profile is expected to step up in the coming days, however, the signing of Osimhen would offer them depth as well as quality in the long run.
The London hotshots sanctioned Tammy Abraham’s transfer to AS Roma back in the summer window. Olivier Giroud left for AC Milan on a minuscule figure and Lukaku, alone, is finding it difficult to meet the demands. The European champions are going strong in all competitions under Thomas Tuchel and their persistent spending spree would see them dominate world football for years to come.
