Chelsea’s Osimhen pursuit meets major curveball

Published on by Toyosi Afolayan

Chelsea are up against Al Ahli in the race to sign Napoli's star striker, Victor Osimhen. The Saudi Pro League club have reportedly submitted an initial bid of around £55 million, hoping to lure the Nigerian forward away from Europe.

Meanwhile, Chelsea are focused on offloading up to six players before intensifying their pursuit of Osimhen.

With European clubs unwilling to meet Napoli's €130 million valuation, Al Ahli, who finished thirs in the Saudi top flight last season, aim to dethrone rivals Al Hilal by adding the Nigeria international Osimhen to their squad.

Owned by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Al Ahli already boast a star-studded squad, including Roberto Firmino, Edouard Mendy, Riyad Mahrez, and Franck Kessie.

Victor Osimhen transfer: A summer of drama and chaos

As the European summer transfer window nears its end, uncertainty remains over whether Victor Osimhen will consider a move to Saudi Arabia.

Napoli, meanwhile, are already preparing for life without him and are close to signing Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku, who is seen as the ideal replacement.

Victor Osimhen: Chelsea pursuit meets major curveball
Photo by IMAGO

Osimhen, who has been linked with top European clubs like Real Madrid, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, Bayern Munich, and Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal, remains at Napoli despite intense summer speculation.

While Paris Saint-Germain initially led the chase, negotiations stalled when the French club couldn't meet Napoli's demands. Now, with Arsenal and Chelsea leading the race, the 25-year-old's hefty wage demands have become a stumbling block.

Chelsea prefers a loan deal with an obligation to buy for the 25-year-old, though Napoli and Osimhen may lower their demands to facilitate the transfer. Osimhen has scored 76 goals in 133 appearances for Napoli over four seasons and has netted 21 times in 31 caps for Nigeria.

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Toyosi Afolayan

Toyosi Afolayan is a sports journalist who breathes life into the games we love. He loves to combine insightful analysis with historical background, creating a richer understanding of sports. Afolayan's expertise ranges from captivating narratives to live broadcasts, captivating audiences across platforms like Ojbsport, AllNigeriaSoccer, TVC Entertainment, Bounce Networks, Kwara TV, ICIR, EaglesTracker, and NFF TV. His background in History and International Studies adds depth, revealing the connections between sports, politics, and national identity.