The future of Victor Osimhen hangs in the balance as negotiations for a transfer to Paris Saint-Germain have stalled. Now, fresh rumors are emerging about a potential move to Chelsea, reigniting interest in the talented forward.
Journalist Ben Jacobs has reported that Osimhen is becoming increasingly impatient and hopes that Napoli will reconsider their stance on his release clause.
According to a recent report from CaughtOffside, Chelsea is in regular contact with Osimhen’s agent regarding personal terms, and talks are progressing positively.
The club aims to secure a new striker for under £45 million. Negotiations are ongoing between Chelsea and Napoli to resolve a valuation discrepancy of approximately £8.4 million regarding Romelu Lukaku.
With rumors regarding swirling, ESPN’s Mark Ogden weighed in on the transfer saga and noted that the best outcome for Osimhen would be a move to Stamford Bridge.
“It’s a complex one,” Ogden said on ESPN FC. “It’s because he’s got two years left in his contract at Napoli. The owner wants £110 million. I think it’s his release clause. Nobody can afford that. PSG had gone quiet. But obviously, Napoli wants to replace Osimhen when he goes, and they fancy Romelu Lukaku, who’s still at Chelsea despite playing for virtually every club in Serie A for the last two or three years.
“So the way that this deal can get done is if Lukaku goes to Napoli, then Osimhen would go to Chelsea on loan with a view to a permanent deal… I do think that, in terms of the logistical deal, it makes a lot of sense. Chelsea, for all they’ve spent over the last two years, they haven’t really signed a striker, so Osimhen would work for Chelsea.”
Since transferring from Ligue 1’s LOSC Lille to Napoli, the Nigerian international has netted 76 goals in 133 appearances, including 65 goals in Serie A. Osimhen was also pivotal in securing Napoli’s league title in the 2022-23 season.
