Chelsea’s pursuit of Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen has received a significant boost after Napoli’s director, Giovanni Manna, confirmed that Osimhen has officially requested to leave the Italian club.
This news comes as Chelsea continues its search for a top-tier striker to strengthen their attack for the upcoming 2024/25 season.
Osimhen, 25, has become one of the most coveted strikers in Europe, drawing interest from several major clubs, including Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United, and Liverpool. However, his substantial €130 million release clause has deterred many potential buyers, leaving Chelsea as the primary contender still eager to sign him.
Manna revealed the striker’s desire to leave in a recent statement, saying, “Victor Osimhen has asked to leave the club. He wants to go. The situation is clear; there were already chances for his exit last summer. Victor wants to leave. We will see in the next 20 days.”
Osimhen has been conspicuously absent from Napoli’s recent fixtures, including their Coppa Italia first-round match against Modena on Saturday night. The striker has not participated in any of Napoli’s pre-season games and last appeared for the club in a 0-0 draw against Lecce on the final day of the 2023/24 Serie A season.
Manna further elaborated on the situation, stating, “Victor is a player who wants to leave, and last year there was already a situation in place. We are calm because we have players in the squad ready to replace him. Osimhen is a strong player, but we want to protect the integrity and harmony of the group.”
Chelsea, who have already secured a deal to sign Samuel Omorodion from Atletico Madrid, are still in dire need of a striker capable of consistently delivering goals. Osimhen, who played a crucial role in leading Napoli to their first Serie A title in over 30 years by scoring 26 league goals in the 2022/23 season, ranks high on Chelsea’s wish list to lead their line.
The potential transfer may involve negotiations between Napoli and Chelsea, especially since Napoli is interested in signing Romelu Lukaku from the London club. However, Osimhen’s agent, Roberto Calenda, has dismissed the possibility of a swap or loan deal. Despite this, the striker’s eagerness to leave Napoli could lead to a resolution that aligns with Chelsea’s demands.
Osimhen’s journey with Napoli began in 2020 when he joined from Lille for a club-record fee of €70 million, with an additional €10 million in bonuses. Over the past two seasons, he has been in outstanding form, becoming a key player for the Parthenopeans and earning the top scorer award in Serie A for his impressive 26 goals during their title-winning campaign.
As the transfer window progresses, all eyes will be on whether Chelsea can finalize the deal for Osimhen, bringing one of Europe’s most prolific strikers to Stamford Bridge. The next 20 days are expected to be crucial in determining the future of the Lagos-born star.