Chelsea have made a surprising late move in the transfer market by targeting Napoli’s star striker, Victor Osimhen.
This development comes after the club has already spent €189 million on 12 new signings this summer.
Despite securing Pedro Neto from Wolverhampton for €60 million, Chelsea’s plans for strengthening their attack took an unexpected turn when Samu Omorodion returned to Atletico Madrid after initially joining the Blues.
Osimhen has emerged as Chelsea’s primary target, even though the club’s manager, Enzo Maresca, initially preferred a more associative striker.
Calciomercato report that the club had previously proposed a loan deal with an option to buy Osimhen, but Napoli’s owner, Aurelio De Laurentiis, remains firm on requiring an offer close to the striker’s €130 million release clause.
The negotiations with Napoli are further complicated by Chelsea’s interest in offloading Romelu Lukaku. The Belgian striker, who spent last season on loan at Roma, could be involved in a potential swap deal with Napoli. Lukaku is keen to reunite with former manager Antonio Conte in Naples, which could facilitate the deal.
Chelsea’s pursuit of Osimhen is part of a broader strategy to enhance their attacking options, with the Nigerian forward seen as a key addition to their squad. The club’s aggressive approach in the transfer market reflects their ambition to compete at the highest level in the upcoming season
