7 months ago
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Napoli striker Victor Osimhen is ready to move to the Premier League and has already set his heart on the club he wants to join this summer, according to reports.
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The Nigeria international is one of the most in-demand players in world football after a prolific campaign last season as Napoli lifted the Scudetto, netting 26 goals in 32 games.
Last week, Osimhen revealed his intention to leave Naples at the end of the season, having negotiated a new contract that includes a release clause believed to be worth between £102million and £111m.
Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United are all long-time admirers of the 25-year-old, while Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis recently suggested Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid could be potential destinations too.
But now well-connected Belgian journalist Sascha Tavolieri, who followed Osimhen during a loan spell with Belgian side Charleroi in the 2018-19 season, has claimed that the striker has picked Chelsea as his next club.
Osimhen wants to take the next step of his career in the Premier League and is eager to move to west London, though any transfer is far from a done deal.
Chelsea – who are eager to bolster their frontline – are unlikely to be able to pay his release clause in full while also staying on the right side of financial fair play restrictions, while their new ownership have tried to stagger payments for big transfers recently.
If they try to negotiate a fee for Osimhen, they will have to deal with De Laurentiis who is regarded as one of the toughest negotiators in European football.
Osimhen has previously revealed that he had a Chelsea shirt – and a United one too – as a kid growing up while the club has a legacy of signing some of Africa’s most talented players.
The likes of Didier Drogba and Michael Essien were big inspirations to Osimhen and he has often been compared to the former.
Osimhen was actually spotted talking to Drogba at the Africa Cup of Nations recently, with many Chelsea fans hoping the club legend was trying to convince him to move to Stamford Bridge.
The Blues have also had a host of Nigerian legends play for the club, from Celestine Babayaro to John Obi Mikel, and the latter actually pleaded with Osimhen to move to Chelsea during a recent episode of his podcast.
Speaking on The Obi One Podcast, Mikel told his compatriot: ‘It’s not the time to go to Saudi. Next season I know you’re going to come to Chelsea. I’m going to be the agent to broker that deal. You’re 100% coming to Chelsea!’
Talking about his appreciation of the club, and Drogba, Osimhen himself said: ‘I had two jerseys from my brother when I was a kid – Chelsea and Manchester United.
‘When I was playing grassroots [I was compared to Didier Drogba]. We used to use my brothers phone [to watch Drogba]. I would then go on the pitch and try to [emulate] his game [and learn]. I still watch Drogba’s comps now.’
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