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Tony MoganPublished May 4, 2024, 11:38pm|Updated May 4, 2024, 11:39pm
Chelsea have made contact with Napoli over a sensational summer move for Victor Osimhen, ready to offer Romelu Lukaku and another player to the Serie A side as part of the deal.
The Blues are long-term admirers of the Nigeria international, who played a integral role in Napoli’s title success last season.
The Serie A giants have endured a difficult 2023-24 season languishing in mid-table with Osimhen recently indicating he will look for a move away from Naples this summer.
Paris Saint-Germain have made the 25-year-old a top target ahead of Kylian Mbappe’s imminent departure but Chelsea plan to rival them for his signature.
Italian journalist Gianluca di Marzio reports the Blues have made ‘first contact’ with Napoli over a move and are looking to agree a fee between €80million and €90million (£68m and £77m).
To sweeten the deal, the report states Chelsea will also offer Lukaku and an unnamed young player as part of the deal.
Giovanni Manna is expected to become Napoli’s new sporting director with Lukaku one of his top targets.
Lukaku, who Chelsea signed for a then-club record fee of £97m in 2021, has spent the last two seasons back on loan in Italy, initially at Inter Milan having spent this season at Roma. The 31-year-old has scored 19 times in 43 appearances for the Giallorossi.
Chelsea’s problems up front have been well-documented this season with Cole Palmer’s 20 goals accounting for almost a third of their total scored in the Premier League.
Nicolas Jackson has a very respectable return of 15 in 42 appearances in his first season at the club but has also come in for criticism for a series of high profile misses throughout the campaign.
Christopher Nkunku meanwhile has been limited to just two starting appearances in what has been an injury hit campaign for the Frenchman.
Osimhen has scored 16 times for Napoli this season with his countryman and former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel claiming earlier this year he has his heart set on a move to Stamford Bridge.
‘I think there is genuine interest between both. I think he loves the club, he wants to come to the club,’ Mikel said.
‘Obviously, he wants to follow my footsteps as a Nigerian player who has played for Chelsea – Victor Moses, Celestine Babayaro, not a lot of us.
‘But he also has a lot of interest. Paris Saint-Germain, Man United.
‘I’m still pushing, sending him messages, trying to make sure he doesn’t expect to much, narrow you’re mind on one club – the Blues.’
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