Victor Osimhen’s Future Decided as Chelsea Push for Deadline Day Deal Amid Arsenal Interest

Chelsea are set to make their first official bid for Napoli’s star striker Victor Osimhen as the summer transfer window nears its close. With the Saudi Pro League clubs backing off due to Osimhen’s reluctance to move, the Blues are now in a prime position to secure one of their top targets.

Napoli faces a time crunch to finalize Osimhen’s transfer, with the risk of keeping an unsettled player if a deal isn’t struck soon. To replace him, the Serie A club has already secured Romelu Lukaku from Chelsea, signaling their readiness to let Osimhen go.

Reports suggest that Chelsea is preparing a structured offer of £55 million for the 25-year-old Nigerian forward, matching the amount previously proposed by Saudi clubs. Chelsea is also exploring the possibility of a loan deal, using Lukaku as part of the negotiation to make the move more appealing to Napoli.

Chelsea, currently in the midst of offloading several players like Raheem Sterling, Ben Chilwell, and Trevor Chalobah, sees Osimhen as the missing piece to bolster their attacking options. Despite their recent 6-2 thrashing of Wolves, the addition of Osimhen could provide the lethal edge they’ve been seeking up front.

The deal’s success will depend on the outcome of initial negotiations, with the transfer deadline looming. Chelsea is expected to offer Osimhen a significant signing-on fee to lower his weekly wage demands, aligning with their strategy to reduce the club’s overall wage bill.