Chelsea Eyes Osimhen Deal, Ready to Offload Lukaku in Striker Swap

Ikenna ChurchillMay 5, 20241 Mins read118

Chelsea is gearing up for another rebuilding season after facing another disappointing campaign. With Mauricio Pochettino’s squad lacking firepower upfront, securing a new striker is a top priority.

According to renowned Italian transfer expert DiMarzio, the Blues have initiated talks with Napoli regarding a potential deal for Victor Osimhen. The 25-year-old Nigerian has established himself as one of Serie A’s standout strikers since his move from Lille in 2020. With two years remaining on his contract, Napoli might consider cashing in on Osimhen this summer.

In an exciting twist, Chelsea is reportedly open to including Romelu Lukaku in the deal to acquire Osimhen. Lukaku, who returned to Chelsea in a much-criticized £97.5 million deal in 2021, has endured loan spells at Inter Milan and Roma over the past two seasons. With two years left on his contract, Chelsea aims to offload Lukaku’s hefty wages permanently this summer. Alongside an offer of £77 million plus Lukaku, Chelsea is willing to add a promising young player to sweeten the deal.

Osimhen played a pivotal role in Napoli’s historic Serie A title triumph last season, although he has faced injury setbacks this term. Despite scoring 14 goals in 22 appearances, his campaign was interrupted by a hamstring injury and participation in the Africa Cup of Nations. On the other hand, Lukaku has managed 11 goals in 29 Serie A outings for Roma, with 19 across all competitions.

Chelsea faces stiff competition for Osimhen’s signature, with Paris Saint-Germain reportedly expressing interest in the striker. PSG is poised to enter negotiations soon, especially with Kylian Mbappe set to depart upon the expiry of his contract.

As Chelsea seeks to bolster its attacking options, the race for Osimhen’s services intensifies, with multiple top clubs vying for his signature.

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