Chelsea plot £40m Osimhen swoop

Chelsea are plotting a January swoop for Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen, with transfer expert Fabrizio Romano confirming the Blues’ interest, The PUNCH reports.

Romano told Caught Offside that Chelsea might be preparing a £40million bid for the Napoli striker when the transfer window reopens in January.

He, however, clarified that no negotiations are currently ongoing despite reports of behind-the-scenes preparations at Stamford Bridge.

Osimhen, who is currently on loan at Galatasaray, has hit the ground running in Turkey, netting twice in a thrilling 3-3 draw against Kasımpaşa last weekend.

The 25-year-old’s brace saw him etch his name in Galatasaray’s history books as the first player to register four or more goal contributions in the first three Süper Lig games since Bafetimbi Gomis in 2017.

The Nigerian international’s future remains uncertain, with his contract with Napoli set to expire in July 2025.

However, RAI Sport journalist Ciro Venerato claims that a €90m release clause allows Osimhen to leave Napoli in January, although it is not valid for Serie A clubs.

Chelsea’s interest in Osimhen could have significant implications for their current striker, Nicolas Jackson. The Senegalese forward, who joined the London club from Villarreal for £32m last summer, has impressed in his debut Premier League season, scoring four goals in six matches.

Former Chelsea striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink believes Jackson has the potential to become a £150m player, saying, “If Nicolas Jackson fulfils his potential, he will be a £150m player. I’m convinced of that.”

Jackson has already outperformed club legend Didier Drogba’s debut season, scoring 14 goals compared to Drogba’s 10 in the 2004/05 Premier League campaign.Meanwhile, Osimhen’s prolific record speaks for itself. The striker has netted 76 goals in 133 appearances for Napoli since his £73million transfer from Lille in 2020. He was also Serie A’s top scorer in the 2022–23 season with 26 goals notched, playing a crucial role in Napoli’s title-winning campaign.

Despite the speculation, Galatasaray vice president İbrahim Hatipoğlu recently stated, “There is no possibility of Osimhen leaving the team in January. We are thinking of having him play with us next season as well.”

As the January transfer window approaches, all eyes will be on Chelsea’s next move. The potential arrival of Osimhen could spark a shake-up in the Blues’ attacking lineup, but for now, the Nigerian striker remains focused on his performances for Galatasaray in both domestic and European competitions.