Chelsea are exploring the possibility of securing Victor Osimhen on loan from Napoli, potentially as part of a deal that would see Romelu Lukaku reunite with Antonio Conte at the Serie A club. This development comes amid increasing interest from other clubs, including Arsenal.
Chelsea’s Interest in Osimhen
Chelsea have long been admirers of Victor Osimhen. Despite his recent contract extension at Napoli, which includes a fluctuating release clause of at least £100 million, the Blues are keen to secure the Nigerian forward. The Athletic reports ongoing talks with Napoli, discussing a potential sale of Lukaku, who had two successful seasons under Conte at Inter Milan, helping them to win the 2020/21 Serie A title.
Chelsea’s pursuit of Osimhen could potentially involve a loan deal with an option to buy, as part of the negotiations involving Lukaku. However, Osimhen’s agent, Roberto Calenda, has dismissed these swap deal rumors as “fake news.”
Arsenal’s Enquiry
Arsenal have also shown interest in Victor Osimhen. Italian publication Corriere dello Sport reports that the Gunners have enquired about the forward, though their main target remains Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres. Arsenal have been active in the transfer market, already securing Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori and being linked with Bayern Munich’s Leroy Sane.
Complications in the Deal
While Chelsea are determined to offload Lukaku on a permanent basis, his return to Stamford Bridge has been problematic, leading to multiple loan spells, including at Inter Milan and AS Roma. Roma initially showed interest in a permanent deal for Lukaku but could not meet Chelsea’s demands.
Osimhen’s potential move to Chelsea is further complicated by his high valuation and interest from other top clubs, including Paris Saint-Germain, who have been unable to agree on a transfer fee with Napoli.
Summary
Chelsea and Arsenal are both eyeing Napoli’s Victor Osimhen as a key addition to their squads. Chelsea are considering a loan deal involving Romelu Lukaku, while Arsenal have also made an enquiry. However, securing Osimhen will be challenging due to his high valuation, ongoing negotiations, and interest from other clubs.
