Chelsea's quest for Premier League glory has hit a roadblock, as their struggle to find the back of the net continues to haunt them this season.
With a burning desire to end this barren spell, Chelsea's co-owner, Todd Boehly, is determined to make a big-money signing in the upcoming January transfer window.
The club's target? Napoli's sensational 24-year-old forward, Victor Osimhen.
Osimhen's price tag and Todd Boehly's ambitions
Securing Osimhen from Napoli will not come cheap. The Italian club has slapped a hefty £140 million price tag on their star striker.
This astronomical figure presents a considerable financial hurdle for Chelsea, but they are ready to break the bank for a striker who could turn their season around.
Todd Boehly, the American co-owner of Chelsea, has made it clear that he's willing to go to great lengths to bring Osimhen to Stamford Bridge.
With the club's goal drought threatening their title aspirations, Boehly is looking to make a significant splash in the January transfer market.
He recognizes that investing in the 24 year old could be the key to addressing Chelsea's ongoing goal-scoring crisis.
While Napoli is not under any financial pressure to part ways with Osimhen, they are also aware of the intense interest surrounding the Super Eagles forward.
Osimhen's contract with the Serie A champions runs until the summer of 2025, and Napoli is adamant that they won't let him go for anything less than £140 million.
Chelsea's interest in Victor Osimhen is not a fleeting desire; it's a long-standing pursuit.
The Blues have been linked with the 24-year-old for some time and are now poised to intensify their efforts to secure his services in the winter transfer window.
While Napoli may be reluctant to lose him mid-season, Chelsea is leaving no stone unturned in their quest to land the striker.
Osimhen's contract situation
Despite Napoli's efforts to tie Osimhen down with a lucrative contract extension, the player has not committed to a renewal.
His contract expires in 2025, and this uncertainty has piqued the interest of several top clubs, including Chelsea.
The contract extension negotiations are far from concluded, and the player's future remains uncertain.
In the world of transfer rumors and speculations, one name stands out for its reliability, Fabrizio Romano.
According to Romano, Chelsea is closely monitoring Osimhen's situation at Napoli.
The Italian transfer guru indicated that Chelsea remains informed about the ongoing developments regarding the Nigerian striker.
While Chelsea might not secure Osimhen's services in the winter, the summer transfer window presents a different story.
Chelsea is expected to be one of the frontrunners in the race for Osimhen in the summer of 2024.
“Guys, from what I’m hearing it’s true that in August, Napoli presented a very important contract extension proposal to Victor Osimhen,” wrote Romano in his column for Caught Offside.
🇳🇬 Napoli director Meluso on Osimhen’s contract situation: “The president will meet with Victor’s agent to discuss that in the next weeks”.
“It’s also normal for Osimhen to take some time in order to think about the contract proposal we made”. pic.twitter.com/mRzuVx9naG
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) October 21, 2023
The biggest salary in Napoli’s history was on the table to convince him to extend a contract which expires in the summer of 2025, but the contract extension is absolutely far from being done.
“In the summer, it could be a different story. Chelsea are absolutely one of the clubs being kept informed on the situation, and this is very normal because we know they’ve been looking for a new striker for a long time.”
Romano ruled out Manchester United from the race, as they seem content with their current options.
“Man United are very happy with Rasmus Hojlund in that position now,” he continued.
“Osimhen’s situation in general is going to be one to watch in 2024, with Napoli still trying to get the player to extend his contract – and that won’t be easy.”
The saga surrounding Osimhen's future promises to be one of the most intriguing storylines in the world of football, as Napoli desperately tries to extend his contract amidst intense interest.
Chelsea's pursuit of Victor is a story of ambition, determination, and the willingness to break the bank to secure a world-class striker.
With Boehly's vision, Napoli's reluctance to sell, and Osimhen's uncertain contract situation, the drama surrounding this transfer saga is poised to captivate football fans worldwide.
Whether Chelsea's hefty investment in the Nigerian will bear fruit, only time will tell, but it's a storyline worth following closely.
This article was most recently revised and updated 1 week ago
