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Chelsea have been linked with a move for Napoli striker, Victor Osimhen for a while now, and the deal could yet happen if recent reports in the news are anything to go by.
The Nigerian forward has made it clear he likes the Premier League, which he recently described as the biggest league in the world, and he’s a big fan of Chelsea, having owned the club’s jersey when he was younger.
The only potential stumbling block to the deal happening for now, appears to be the price tag of Osimhen, which many believe stands around €160m. However, top journalist, Ben Jacobs has argued that it may not be that much, as explained to GiveMeSport.
“The indications have always been from Napoli sources that it is very unlikely he will be available in January,” he said.
“So then Chelsea, like others I suppose, face a conundrum do you move in January or do you wait for Osimhen in the summer? And I think if Chelsea feel like they could get Osimhen then they would wait.
“By next summer the price will have dropped a little bit unless, obviously, Osimhen signs any kind of new deal at Napoli. Aurelio De Laurentiis [Napoli president] has always tried for about €150m or €160m and the reason for that is because he argues they paid Lille €80m for the player.
“And I’d say he argues that because the numbers are a bit contentious. It includes the payment upfront which was maybe €50m, plus bonuses, plus player swaps. That is how Napoli calculated the deal is worth €80m, and therefore De Laurentiis has always argued in the past because of Osimhen’s form and I think he was eighth in the Ballon d’Or, they need double that number, which if they got it would be €160m.
“Flash forward to the summer, the number will be more like €120m in likelihood, which is about £100m and in the current market for a player like Osimhen, that is going to tempt quite a few clubs. Chelsea included.”
Chelsea have also been linked with Brentford’s Ivan Toney, who is reportedly valued at £80m, but eventually, we know that Mauricio Pochettino go for the player he knows will work well with his current setup.