“ON THE RADAR”: Napoli and Nigerian top striker Victor Osimhen’s agent sent a three-word message after a final verdict on his client amid Arsenal and Tottenham links.
Napoli star Victor Osimhen would reportedly choose a transfer to Chelsea over the likes of Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur. The Blues certainly hold an interest in Osimhen ahead of the January transfer window.
However, a move for the Nigerian international during the season is deemed unlikely at this stage, football.london understands. Meanwhile, the Gunners have a wealth of options in attack, with the likes of Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah all capable of operating upfront.
However, none of those mentioned above are as prolific in front of goal as Osimhen, who netted 26 goals in 32 Serie A outings last season to help fire Napoli to their first league title since 1990. Arsenal’s north London rivals, Spurs, sold star frontman Harry Kane during the summer transfer window, although they have looked more than capable without the England captain since.
Ange Postecoglou’s side sit fourth in the current standings, only three points behind league leaders Manchester City, with new club captain Son Heung-min already firing eight goals in the Premier League this term. Now, according to Evening Standard journalist Nizaar Kinsella, a move to west London is likelier than the northern part of the capital.
He told the London is Blue podcast: “It’s a bad market for strikers in January, and Osimhen is the striker that everyone wants. There’s no point in getting another young one now.
“He’d be a great fit, and Chelsea like him. Osimhen likes Chelsea, I had the information for a little while.
“He’s always loved Chelsea, loved [Didier] Drogba. They’ve got some similarities. He’d be interested in Manchester United, but they’re not going to sign a striker. It’s basically Chelsea, Arsenal and Spurs competing in the battleground and Osimhen would probably pick Chelsea out of the three.”
But Osimhen, who could cost as much as £128million according to recent reports, isn’t the only centre-forward that appeals to Chelsea. In fact, the Blues are strongly considering making a mega-money offer to Brentford in the January transfer window for Ivan Toney, football.london understands.
The England international is set to return to action in the new year with his eight-month ban to come to an end. The 27-year-old was handed an eight-month suspension from all football-related activity back in May for breaching the FA’s rules regarding gambling.
But Toney is now close to returning to the field and he is looking to leave the Gtech Community Stadium in the new year, with Chelsea one of a number of clubs with an interest in the former Newcastle United striker.
The Blues have liked the clinical forward for a long time now and were considering making a move for him in the summer of 2022, prior to his long-term ban.
Arsenal and Tottenham have been completely dismissed as contenders to sign one of European football’s elite strikers Victor Osimhen, with just four Premier League clubs able to afford the Napoli star.
The Nigerian frontman has hinted at an exit at the end of the current campaign and although he keeps being pushed towards Chelsea, that has not stopped numerous other Premier League clubs being linked with the forward.
On Wednesday, journalist Ciro Venerato revealed that the Stamford Bridge outfit are set to fight with Arsenal for his signature.
Meanwhile, a fresh report from Gazzetta dello Sport also states that Chelsea are ready to step up and pay Osimhen’s €130m exit clause, despite also being linked with a big-money move for Inter attacker Lautaro Martinez.
And now La Repubblica, as relayed by Mondo Napoli, claims that current Serie A champions are ‘ready to say goodbye’ to him in the summer.
Mauricio Pochettino’s men are thought to have already put out feelers for a big summer deal to land the former Lille hotshot, that’s according to agent Paolo Palermo.
Palermo has been speaking to TV Play’s Twitch channel about Osimhen‘s future, with his comments relayed by Calciomercato.
Osimhen ready to leave Napoli this summer
The agent claims the Nigeria international’s comments are a ‘prelude to a summer farewell’, although he has ruled out a switch to north London for the player.
“I’ve said since he renewed that he was leaving. Extending it for just one year means having already sold him, otherwise they would renew it for four years. They put the card on the player and also on the player’s contract,” he said.
“I think someone has already joined; I think Chelsea. Those who can spend €120-130m are Chelsea, City, United and Liverpool, I don’t think Arsenal. Tottenham could also do it but they have a salary cap of €6-7m, Osimhen already earns €10m.”
While there have been reports of Tottenham still having money to burn from the sale of Harry Kane, there is little or no chance of Daniel Levy spending that sort of money on one player.
Indeed, there has even been talk of Kane returning to north London sooner rather than later as he views the direction the club is going in under Ange Postecoglou.
As for the Gunners, signing a top striker remains a major priority for Mikel Arteta, but that sort of a figure is a push for a player who has excelled in Italy but remains unproven in England.
That leaves Chelsea and big-spending owner Todd Boehly as the firm frontrunners for a player who has scored 105 goals in 209 club career appearances.
The Blues are back in action on Friday evening when they host Aston Villa in the FA Cup fourth round.
