Chelsea could reportedly make a move in 2023 to sign reported Tottenham target Victor Osimhen, who Manchester United viewed in the summer as a potential replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo.
According to CalcioMercato, the west London side are keeping tabs on the Napoli superstar, with Osimhen expected to one day leave Serie A for the Premier League as the Nigerian international’s stock continues to rise, with Tottenham also chasing the forward.
As per the report, Napoli want at least €100m (£87m) for their star striker, who this summer was subject to interest from the likes of Arsenal, Newcastle United and Erik Ten Hag’s United, with Il Mattino reporting that the Red Devils were open to swapping Ronaldo for Osimhen in a deal worth £118m.
With five goals in nine appearances this season, Osimhen is playing a key role in Napoli’s sensational year in both Serie A and the UEFA Champions League, and at just 23, there’s a strong chance that the former LOSC Lille star could soon be on his way to the Premier League.
Indeed, with Chelsea’s new owners keen to splash the cash to win over supporters, a move to sign Osimhen as a long-term replacement for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is not that farfetched, even with Napoli setting an £87m price tag for the Nigerian international.
Although CalcioMercato reported that Tottenham are also interested in Osimhen, a move for the attacker seems only plausible if Harry Kane leaves the club in 2023, and for Antonio Conte, this could mean losing out on the Napoli star to one of his former clubs in Chelsea.
Chelsea should be favourites to sign Osimhen next year
Osimhen’s future has been a subject of debate ever since the striker moved to Napoli, yet following this latest update, Chelsea have seemingly surpassed the likes of Tottenham and United in the race to sign the attacker, which could happen as soon as next year.
The Blues will likely want a long-term option for Aubameyang, and whilst Chelsea’s striker luck in recent years has been nothing short of disastrous, signing Osimhen could be a smart idea given how prolific the Napoli star has been over the last few seasons.
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