With Romelu Lukaku and Armando Broja seemingly both on their way out of the club this summer, it seemed almost a formality that Chelsea were going to sign a striker. This still may come to fruition, but it reportedly will not be through Napoli’s Victor Osimhen.
Who is Osimhen?
Osimhen broke out onto the scene in the 2022-23 season with Napoli and Nigeria with 31 goals in 39 games between Serie A and the UEFA Champions League. He was seen as the top striker in the world who would be available on the transfer market with a similar prospect and ceiling to Manchester City’s Erling Haaland. Osimhen grew up a Chelsea fan and idolized Didier Drogba, so many would’ve thought the two would form a perfect partnership.
Why is Chelsea not going for Osimhen?
Chelsea are not going for Osimhen for a couple of reasons. The first reason is when Chelsea approached Osimhen and his agents they could not come to an agreement on personal terms for a contract. His wage demands were just simply too high especially considering he is slated to be making €12M with Napoli this upcoming season.
Osimhen being 25 years old is also a red flag for the Chelsea model as they like to invest in younger talent that projects for the future. It is possible that their models see Osimhen as someone who has already hit his ceiling, and with his hefty price tag, it just may not be worth it.