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Phil HaighPublished Aug 30, 2024, 7:46am|Updated Aug 30, 2024, 7:49am
Chelsea could still land a late deal for Victor Osimhen, as a loan with an obligation to buy has been deemed acceptable by the Blues and the Napoli striker.
Osimhen’s future has been one of the transfer sagas of the summer with a move to the Premier League, Paris Saint-Germain or the Saudi Pro League all thought possible for the Nigerian.
The 25-year-old made it clear he intends to leave Napoli this summer and has not been involved by new manager Antonio Conte as a result.
However, huge demands in terms of transfer fee from Napoli and wages from the striker have made a move difficult, with PSG pulling out of a deal.
Saudi Arabia remains an option, but Chelsea are hopeful of a late move before the transfer window closes on Friday evening.
Sky Sports report a loan move with an obligation to buy could be done on transfer deadline day, which was not the first choice for Osimhen, but he is now willing to do.
The striker has reportedly been offered around £25m-per-year to join Saudi side Al-Ahli, but his preference appears to be to stay in Europe.
Osimhen’s agent Roberto Calenda said of his client: ‘He is not a package to be sent far away to make room for new prophets. Victor was elected African Footballer of the Year, eighth in the Ballon d’Or, he still has a lot to say in Europe.’
Osimhen’s release clause in the contract he signed last December stands at £113m, which is the fee that has put off the likes of PSG so far.
Chelsea will not be spending that if they can secure the loan with obligation to buy deal, which would see a much smaller fee paid now and another next year.
It is going to be a very busy transfer deadline day at Stamford Bridge as they look to offload as many of the players they have exiled from the first team as possible.
Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell are the biggest names of the ‘bomb squad’ that has been chopped from the first team and training separately.
However, the England internationals on long and very fruitful contracts are not proving that easy to get rid of.
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