The ongoing Chelsea-Victor Osimhen transfer saga appears to be reaching its conclusion, with reports suggesting that the Blues are on the verge of signing the Napoli striker in a three-player swap deal.
Despite interest from Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea has emerged as the frontrunners in the race for Osimhen’s signature. The player has been eager to leave Napoli for some time now, and it seems that a move is finally on the horizon.
Aurelio de Laurentiis, president of Napoli, had previously insisted that Osimhen would only be allowed to leave if his £113m release clause was met. However, new head coach Antonio Conte’s arrival has prompted a change of heart, leading to negotiations with Chelsea.
Conte, who is keen to reunite with Romelu Lukaku after their successful spell together at Inter Milan, has been unable to strike a deal with Napoli for the Belgian striker. This has paved the way for a potential part-exchange deal involving Osimhen and Lukaku.
According to reports in The Sun, Chelsea is willing to offer Lukaku and young midfielder Cesare Casadei to Napoli in exchange for Osimhen. Casadei, who made a handful of appearances for Chelsea last season, is valued at £17m and could be included as part of the deal.
In addition to the players, Chelsea is prepared to pay £39m to secure Osimhen’s services. The Nigerian striker, who excelled in Serie A with Napoli, is eager to test himself in the Premier League after a successful spell in Italy.
Osimhen’s time at Napoli was marred by controversy, including a public spat with former coach Rudi Garcia and clashes with the club’s social media team. Despite this, his goal-scoring exploits have not gone unnoticed, and Chelsea sees him as the solution to their attacking woes.
The Blues have struggled to find a consistent goal scorer in recent years, with Lukaku’s exile and Armando Broja’s failure to make an impact leaving a void up front. Nicolas Jackson filled the void admirably last season, but at 23, he still has room for improvement.
With their squad already bursting with young talent, Chelsea’s pursuit of Osimhen represents a departure from their usual transfer strategy. If the deal goes through, it could be considered a shrewd piece of business in an otherwise quiet summer window.