Chelsea continues to pursue a deal for Napoli striker Victor Osimhen despite reports suggesting they had shifted focus to other attacking options.
Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has confirmed that Osimhen, who signed a new contract until 2026 last year, is set to leave the club. The striker’s contract reportedly includes a £113 million release clause, which, if triggered, would force Napoli to let him go.
Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, and Arsenal are the main contenders for the Nigerian international, though Arsenal is unlikely to meet the nine-figure price tag.
Recent reports suggested new Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca may prefer a striker who can drop deep and link play rather than an out-and-out target man like Osimhen. Additionally, concerns over breaching Profit and Sustainability rules could complicate Chelsea’s efforts to sign him. Osimhen has also been speculated to replace Kylian Mbappe at PSG.
Despite these challenges, CaughtOffside reports that Chelsea is making ‘slow progress’ in their bid to secure the 25-year-old striker. PSG’s interest is well-known, but they have yet to make a formal offer, leaving Napoli’s £113 million demands unmet.
Chelsea might have a bargaining chip in Romelu Lukaku, whom Napoli, now managed by Antonio Conte, is interested in as a potential replacement for Osimhen. Lukaku thrived under Conte at Inter Milan but has struggled in his second stint at Chelsea. The Blues are eager to offload him, even at a cut-price £37 million, despite initially re-signing him for £97.5 million.
If the Lukaku deal falls through, Napoli is also considering Girona’s Artem Dovbyk and Feyenoord’s Santiago Gimenez as alternative replacements for Osimhen.
