Chelsea has officially made a bid for Victor Osimhen after months of speculation linking the Napoli forward to the Premier League.
Transfer expert Gianluca Di Marzio reports that the club has
submitted a formal offer to the player's agent, Roberto Calenda, with
discussions with Napoli anticipated to commence on Wednesday.
Osimhen has expressed his intention to leave Napoli, and it
remains to be seen if an agreement can be reached before the transfer deadline
on August 31.
In related news, Chelsea's Romelu Lukaku is nearing a
transfer to the former Serie A champions, having traveled to Naples for a
medical examination on Wednesday prior to finalizing his contract.
Additionally, Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli has made a
substantial offer to Osimhen, which Calenda confirmed on social media, although
he emphasized that his client is not looking to leave Europe at this point in
his career.
Chelsea is eager to secure a top-quality striker before the
transfer window closes and has pinpointed Brentford’s Ivan Toney as a backup
option should they be unable to acquire Osimhen.
The Nigerian forward has been a key player for Napoli since
his transfer from Lille in 2020, scoring 76 goals in 133 matches over the last
three seasons. He was recently honored as the African Footballer of the Year
and ranked eighth in the Ballon d’Or standings.
Despite interest from Saudi Arabian clubs, including a
reported €70 million bid from Al-Ahli, the 25-year-old is determined to
continue his career in Europe.
His current contract with Napoli, which features a €130
million release clause, is valid until June 2026.
Chelsea is also contending with Paris Saint-Germain for
Osimhen’s services, as the French club had previously established a preliminary
agreement with the player earlier this summer.
As the transfer situation develops, Osimhen is training
separately from the Napoli team.