Chelsea have made a surprising late move in the transfer market by targeting Napoliโs star striker, Victor Osimhen. This development comes despite the club already spending โฌ189 million on 12 new signings this summer.
Following Pedro Netoโs arrival from Wolverhampton for โฌ60 million, Chelseaโs pursuit of strengthening their attack took an unexpected turn after Samu Omorodion returned to Atletico Madrid, having initially joined the Blues.
Osimhen has become Chelseaโs top target, even though manager Enzo Maresca had originally favored a different type of striker. According to Calciomercato, Chelsea proposed a loan deal with an option to buy for Osimhen, but Napoliโs owner, Aurelio De Laurentiis, is firm on requiring an offer close to the strikerโs โฌ130 million release clause.
The negotiations with Napoli are further complicated by Chelseaโs 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.
Chelseaโs 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 clubโs aggressive approach in the transfer market reflects their ambition to compete at the highest level in the upcoming season