Chelsea intensify Osimhen talks with Napoli

Victor Osimhen could end up at Chelsea, with news rife that the Premier League giants have intensified talks with Napoli to finalise a deal that will see Romelu Lukaku heading in the opposite direction.

The deal will also see Chelsea paying Napoli a hefty lump sum for their bid to have the Nigeria striker lead their line next season.

The 25-year-old Nigerian striker is still waiting for his high-profile move away from the Partenopei this summer, having signed a new contract back in December that includes a €130m release clause. Paris Saint-Germain seemed seriously keen, but their highest offer didn’t break the €90m mark.

Napoli are keen to snap up Lukaku to please new coach Antonio Conte and have been in contact with Chelsea regarding a possible swap deal involving Osimhen and a large cash sum. Both players expect to leave their respective clubs ahead of the 2024–25 season.

Page eight of today’s Corriere dello Sport details how Lukaku is valued at around €30m by Napoli, despite his €44m release clause, so Chelsea would need to pay €70m as well to secure a deal for Osimhen, who is open to the move to West London.

A double loan deal looks extremely unlikely considering that both players have contracts expiring in 2026, so the operation would need to be on definitive terms. Talks between the two clubs are ongoing, and developments are expected.

Osimhen and Napoli agreed to part ways before the end of last season despite signing a new deal with the Azzurri in December, with the former Serie A champions smartly inserting a 130m euros release clause that has seen his suitors beating a retreat sooner than enquiring about his availability.

Manchester United, PSG, and Arsenal were among the several top European clubs interested in his signature, but they have all settled for other option, leaving Chelsea as the only club that help  help the former Lille striker fulfill his dreams of playing in the Premier League.

Osimhen, who has shunned several lucrative offers from the Saudi Pro League, has been left out Antonio Conte in Napoli’s preseason, making his departure from Diego Maradona Stadium increasingly imminent.