Chelsea is reportedly in preliminary discussions with Napoli regarding the potential acquisition of Victor Osimhen this summer, as Mauricio Pochettino seeks to bolster his erratic forward line.
The London club is devising an inventive proposal to entice Osimhen to Stamford Bridge, considering the impending Financial Fair Play rules.
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Pochettino’s first season at the helm of Chelsea has been less than stellar, with the team’s faltering offense being somewhat salvaged by Cole Palmer’s exceptional performance.
Without Palmer’s remarkable emergence following his £40 million transfer from Manchester City, it’s hard to imagine how much Chelsea might have struggled this season.
Palmer, at 21, has tallied 23 goals and 13 assists across all competitions, with only Nicolas Jackson joining him in double digits with 14 goals.
Christopher Nkunku has hardly played in his first season marred by injuries after his £53 million move last summer. Armando Broja, also plagued by fitness issues, is currently on loan at Fulham.
Hence, Chelsea is expected to seek a new striker in the upcoming transfer window, with Osimhen identified as a potential recruit.
Sky Sport Italia reports that Chelsea, alongside Paris Saint-Germain, is vying for Osimhen’s signature.
Initial outreach has reportedly been made to Napoli, where the 25-year-old has netted 75 goals in 130 appearances over four years since his transfer from LOSC Lille.
Chelsea is believed to be preparing a bid between £69 million and £77 million, potentially including Romelu Lukaku and a younger player in the deal.
Lukaku’s return to Stamford Bridge in a £97.5 million transaction in 2021 did not meet expectations, leading to loan spells at Inter Milan and AS Roma, where he scored 19 goals in 43 matches. His potential move to Napoli would mark his third Serie A team in as many years.
Giovanni Manna, the anticipated new sporting director, has shown interest in Lukaku, having previously considered him for a swap deal with Dusan Vlahovic at Juventus.
However, it’s uncertain if Osimhen or Lukaku are open to the moves.
Both Chelsea and Napoli face the possibility of missing out on European football next season, with Napoli’s decline particularly notable following their Serie A championship last year.
Currently, Napoli’s focus is on securing a new head coach, with Stefano Pioli, Vincenzo Italiano, Antonio Conte, and Gian Piero Gasperini among the speculated candidates.
