Transfer Centre

Chelsea 'step up Victor Osimhen pursuit'

By Oliver Thomas, Senior Reporter | 20 October 2022

Chelsea reportedly step up their pursuit of Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, who has emerged as a favourite among scouts at the club.

Chelsea have reportedly stepped up their pursuit of Napoli striker Victor Osimhen.

The 23-year-old has established himself as a key player for the Azzurri since his big-money move from Lille in 2020, scoring 32 goals and providing 10 assists in 70 appearances across all competitions.

Eighteen of those goals were scored last season, while the Nigeria international has netted four times in eight games so far this campaign, including the winning goal in a 3-2 Serie A triumph over Bologna last weekend.

Osimhen's form in front of goal is believed to have caught the eye of a number of top clubs across Europe including Premier League trio Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal.

According to 90min, the West Londoners are exploring the possibility of luring Osimhen to Stamford Bridge next summer.

Victor Osimhen in action for Napoli on September 7, 2022 © Reuters

The report adds that Chelsea are prepared to splash the cash on a new striker ahead of the 2023-24 campaign and Osimhen has emerged as a favourite among scouts at the club.

Chelsea are expected to face competition from both Man United and Arsenal for his signature, while Bayern Munich have also been credited with an interest as they continue to search for a successor to Robert Lewandowski.

Osimhen, who became the most expensive African player of all time when Napoli signed the striker from Lille for around £70m, is under contract at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium until June 2025.

Despite speculation surrounding his future, the player's agent Roberto Calenda believes that his client currently has no plans to seek pastures new anytime soon.

"We haven't found out now that Osimhen is the subject of interest from so many teams, but things are done in three: who sells, who buys and the player," Calenda told Radio Kiss Kiss.

Napoli's Victor Osimhen during the warm up before the match, November 21, 2021 © Reuters

"I was immediately clear this summer because I knew there would be a lot of news coming out from those who had other interests perhaps. But I, the boy and Napoli had very clear ideas.

"Whoever talked about a departure made a mistake. It was Victor's will to stay at Napoli and play the Champions League that he won entry to last year together with his teammates. Victor wanted exactly that, to have a great year with Napoli, between the league and the Champions League.

"He has a long contract with the Azzurri. The market is dynamic, but our will is to continue at Napoli and continue to do well."

Osimhen is not the only attacker on Chelsea's radar as they are also believed to be keeping tabs on Lille's Jonathan David, Juventus' Dusan Vlahovic, RB Leipzig's Christopher Nkunku and Brighton & Hove Albion's Leandro Trossard.