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Published February 4, 2025 5:53pm Updated February 4, 2025 5:53pm
Jose Fonte has slammed Chelsea over their failure to sign ‘the next Didier Drogba’ Victor Osimhen in the January transfer window.
The Blues have been heavily linked with the Nigeria international forward since the summer but didn’t bring him in before last night’s 11pm deadline.
Osimhen, still one of the most sought after strikers in Europe, is on a season-long loan at Turkish side Galatasaray from Italian club Napoli.
The 26-year-old wishes to leave Napoli permanently – but ended up at Galatasaray after no club paid his £113m release clause last summer.
Some outlets reported that Chelsea were weighing up a January bid for Osimhen – but he did not end up moving to Stamford Bridge this winter.
Former Crystal Palace, Southampton, West Ham and Portugal defender Fonte feels the Blues may come to regret not securing a deal for Osimhen.
‘Chelsea are crying out for a striker like Victor Osimhen,’ Fonte told BoyleSports, who offer the latest Premier League betting.
‘Look at Chelsea and all the greats they have had up front. As a striker he could be another Didier Drogba for them, he is a winner.
‘They have a different style of play and Drogba is a legend, but he has pace, power and technical quality. He wins his duels and is such a handful for defenders.’
Fonte added: ‘When I saw Victor Osimhen go to Galatasaray, I thought it was foolish that no Premier League club had signed him.
‘Once Osimhen gets into the Premier League I think he will bully defenders, he is aggressive, fast, clever and powerful.
‘I played against him in the Champions League and I’m sure he took it easy on me as a friend at almost 40, but it was still a nightmare.
‘He’s a player that has been a hardworking kid, that came from nothing, as a grafter, and all the success that he’s having, he deserves it.
‘I can’t wait to see him in the Premier League because he’s one of those guys that you want to see against the very best.
‘You want to see him in the Premier League week in and week out and we will see that this is where he belongs.’
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