Transfer Centre

Chelsea 'concerned they will miss out on Victor Osimhen'

By Darren Plant, Senior Reporter | 28 February 2024

Chelsea 'concerned they will miss out on Osimhen'

Chelsea reportedly have concerns that they will miss out on the signing of Napoli forward Victor Osimhen during the summer transfer window.

Chelsea are reportedly anxious that they will miss out on signing Napoli forward Victor Osimhen.

The Blues are currently enduring a mixed campaign under Mauricio Pochettino, losing the EFL Cup final on Sunday and sitting in 11th position in the Premier League standings.

With a testing FA Cup fifth-round tie against Leeds United on Wednesday night with a depleted squad and tired legs, Chelsea are underdogs to earn a return to Europe next season.

From a financial perspective, securing a spot in the Europa League spot could benefit them going forward, yet it would bring Chelsea into a position where they must ensure that they adhere to UEFA's financial rules, as well as the Premier League's.

Despite already needing to balance the books ahead of the June 30 cut-off for the next accounts, the West Londoners continue to be linked with an array of high-profile names.

Chelsea co-owner and chairman Todd Boehly in the stands before the match on August 13, 2023 © Reuters

That includes Napoli striker Osimhen, who president Aurelio De Laurentiis has already confirmed will leave in the summer despite having recently penned a new contract.

If reports are to be believed, Chelsea or any other interested party will be required to spend at least €120m (£102.7m) to win the race for the Nigeria international.

However, according to Football Insider, Chelsea still feel that they may miss out on the acquisition of the 25-year-old.

The report suggests that Chelsea are of the opinion that Osimhen may ultimately choose to sign for a Champions League club, a competition that Chelsea will not participate in next season unless they win the majority of their remaining Premier League games and other results go their way.

Napoli's Victor Osimhen celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates on February 21, 2024 © Reuters

Osimhen has already acknowledged that he would like to play in the Premier League and it is believed that a switch to Chelsea is his preferred destination.

Nevertheless, he would risk more than a year of competing outside of European football's premier competition, potentially other continental tournaments given Chelsea's inconsistency since the start of 2022-23.

With Kylian Mbappe expected to sign for Real Madrid on a free transfer, Paris Saint-Germain have allegedly earmarked Osimhen as his preferred replacement.

He has just 10 goals to his name this campaign, Napoli all the way down in ninth position in Serie A and ninth points adrift of fifth place, the bare minimum they will require to remain in the hunt for next season's Champions League unless they win this year's competition.