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Tony MoganPublished Aug 24, 2024, 11:39pm|Updated Aug 24, 2024, 11:40pm
Chelsea’s bid to sign Victor Osimhen could be derailed by the striker’s staggering wage demands, according to reports.
After a wild summer transfer window in west London, the Blues remain in the market for a proven goal scorer up top with Osimhen a long-time target for the club.
The Nigeria international has asked to leave Napoli this summer and with Paris Saint-Germain withdrawing their interest, Chelsea have been working hard to agree a deal.
Talks with striker’s representatives have been ongoing for a number of weeks but according to The Sun, there is still no agreement in sight.
The report claims Osimhen is demanding a salary which would make him the highest paid player in the Premier League – looking for a deal worth an extraordinary £500,000-a-week.
Chelsea are actively trying to reduce their bloated wage bill this summer with Raheem Sterling among those told to find a new club before next week’s transfer deadline.
The Blues are also still negotiating a fee with Napoli having been told a loan deal is not an option. Napoli were demanding Osimhen’s release clause of £110million be met earlier in the summer but reports in Italy suggest that stance has softened with £85m now a realistic price.
Napoli’s move for Romelu Lukaku, now believed to be at an advances stage, is regarded as a completely separate deal.
But there is still plenty of work to do for Chelsea who are not willing to meet Osimhen’s huge wage demands.
The report states Chelsea are looking at other options with Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin under consideration. The striker has one year left on his contract at Goodison Park.
Federico Chiesa, who is free to leave Juventus this summer, is named as another possible option.
Nicolas Jackson led the Chelsea line for much of last season, scoring 17 times in his first campaign in English football.
18-year-old Marc Guiu was also brought in from Barcelona this summer, handed his first start on Thursday in the Europa Conference League play-off against Servette.
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