Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has revealed that the club chose not to sign Victor Osimhen from Napoli after the striker rejected their terms.
Throughout the recent transfer window, Chelsea and Osimhen were frequently linked, but negotiations dragged on until the final day.
Osimhen was seeking a £500,000 weekly wage, well above Chelsea’s wage cap. At the same time, Saudi Arabian club Al Ahli offered a significantly higher salary to attract the Nigerian forward. Despite Osimhen’s interest in joining Chelsea, the salary demands led to a stand-off.
Ultimately, the parties couldn’t reach an agreement before the transfer window closed, leaving Osimhen at Napoli.
After Chelsea’s 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, Maresca confirmed that the deal fell through due to Osimhen’s salary demands.
“We want players, but we wanted a player that we decide it has to be on our conditions. If a player is not here then it was not,” Maresca said, per Fabrizio Romano.
Nonetheless, Maresca did not rule out the possibility of signing a new striker in January, which means a move for Osimhen is still possible.
“New striker in January? We will see,” Maresca added.
Currently, Osimhen’s situation appears dire, as he has been excluded from Napoli’s squad. Antonio Conte has confirmed that there is no possibility of reconciling with the player. As it stands, Osimhen will need to secure a new club in the coming weeks.
