Chelsea are reportedly willing to spend £77 million and include Romelu Lukaku in a deal to sign Victor Osimhen from Napoli this summer. The Blues, who are looking to rebuild after a disappointing season, have made initial contact with Napoli regarding the Nigerian striker. Osimhen has been one of Serie A’s top strikers since joining from Lille in 2020. With two years remaining on his contract, Napoli may be open to cashing in on him this summer.
The inclusion of Lukaku in the deal could help sweeten the offer for Napoli. Lukaku, who rejoined Chelsea in a £97.5 million deal in 2021, has spent the last two seasons on loan at Inter Milan and Roma. Chelsea is looking to offload him permanently and remove his salary from their wage bill. The Blues are also open to including a young player in the deal.
Osimhen played a key role in helping Napoli win the Serie A title last season. Despite missing some games due to injury and the Africa Cup of Nations, he has scored 14 goals in 22 appearances this season. Lukaku, on the other hand, has scored 11 goals in 29 Serie A appearances for Roma.
However, Chelsea may face strong competition for Osimhen’s signature. Paris Saint-Germain is also interested in the striker and plans to enter negotiations soon. With Kylian Mbappe set to leave PSG, they are in need of a new forward.
In other news, the voting for the Footballer of the Year award is closing soon. Writer Dave Kidd has chosen to vote for Cole Palmer, despite Chelsea’s struggles this season. Kidd believes that Palmer’s exceptional individual performance in a struggling team deserves recognition. The 21-year-old has recorded 23 goals and 13 assists for Chelsea this season, making him a standout player.
Overall, Chelsea’s potential pursuit of Osimhen and the inclusion of Lukaku in the deal highlights their determination to strengthen their attacking options. Osimhen’s impressive performances in Serie A and Lukaku’s availability make them attractive targets for the Blues. However, they may face competition from PSG for Osimhen’s signature.