Chelsea target £40m move for Victor Osimhen

Chelsea are reportedly planning a January bid for Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen, with transfer expert Fabrizio Romano confirming the club’s growing interest.

The Blues are said to be preparing a potential £40 million offer for the Napoli forward, although no formal negotiations are currently underway.

Osimhen, currently on loan at Galatasaray, has been in superb form, scoring twice in a thrilling 3-3 draw against Kasımpaşa last weekend.

His brace earned him a place in Galatasaray’s history as the first player to contribute to four or more goals in his first three Süper Lig games since Bafetimbi Gomis in 2017.

While his contract with Napoli is set to expire in July 2025, RAI Sport journalist Ciro Venerato claims that Osimhen has a €90 million release clause valid for non-Serie A clubs, which could allow him to depart Napoli in January.

Chelsea’s interest in Osimhen could affect the standing of current striker Nicolas Jackson, who has impressed in his Premier League debut season, netting four goals in six matches after his £32 million move from Villarreal.

The potential addition of Osimhen would add competition and bolster Chelsea’s attacking options.

Former Chelsea striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink believes Jackson has the potential to become a £150m player, saying, “If Nicolas Jackson fulfils his potential, he will be a £150m player. I’m convinced of that.”

Jackson has already outperformed club legend Didier Drogba’s debut season, scoring 14 goals compared to Drogba’s 10 in the 2004/05 Premier League campaign.Meanwhile, Osimhen’s prolific record speaks for itself.

The striker has netted 76 goals in 133 appearances for Napoli since his £73million transfer from Lille in 2020. He was also Serie A’s top scorer in the 2022–23 season with 26 goals notched, playing a crucial role in Napoli’s title-winning campaign.

Despite the speculation, Galatasaray vice president İbrahim Hatipoğlu recently stated, “There is no possibility of Osimhen leaving the team in January. We are thinking of having him play with us next season as well.”

As the January transfer window approaches, all eyes will be on Chelsea’s next move. The potential arrival of Osimhen could spark a shake-up in the Blues’ attacking lineup, but for now, the Nigerian striker remains focused on his performances for Galatasaray in both domestic and European competitions.