Chelsea have identified Napoli striker Victor Osimhen as their primary striker target for the 2023 summer window, 90min understands.
The Blues’ new ownership has spent big to bolster the squad but remains on the hunt for more firepower, after the acquisition of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang reached a new low with his removal from the Champions League squad.
Kai Havertz has struggled to fill the void in attack and so Chelsea are prepared to sign a new striker in 2023, and sources have confirmed to 90min that the Blues are desperate to win the race for Osimhen.
90min revealed in October that Chelsea scouts had been instructed to step up their reporting on Osimhen, and having spearheaded Napoli’s Serie A title charge with 16 goals in 17 games, the 24-year-old has established himself as Chelsea’s top target.
Osimhen has two years remaining on his contract and so Napoli are prepared to demand his full value, with the Partenopei understood to be looking for close to €150m for the Nigeria international – a fee which has not scared Chelsea away.
However, with extensive plans to sign players in other positions as well, Chelsea are expected to try and reduce that fee by offering a number of players in exchange, with Romelu Lukaku one of a number of possibilities if the Belgian does not return to Inter.
Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentiis has already fired a warning to Osimhen’s suitors, insisting the striker is not for sale.
“I can tell you that Osimhen is not for sale,” he told Bild. “Our players are in demand, but I don’t have to sell anyone. We don’t have any debts.”
Ahead of what could be long, tricky negotiations over Osimhen, Chelsea have been scouting a number of alternative targets and are understood to have looked at Brentford’s Ivan Toney, Eintracht Frankfurt’s Randal Kolo Muani and Benfica’s Goncalo Ramos, while they also pursued Borussia Monchengladbach’s Marcus Thuram during the winter.
However, it’s Osimhen who has won over Chelsea’s new recruitment team and the Blues are prepared to flex their financial muscle in the hope of fending off interest in the striker from a number of Europe’s biggest teams.
Source: 90min.com
