Victor Osimhen: Two vital reasons why Super Eagles star may never play for Chelsea

Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has been heavily linked with a transfer away from Galatasaray in recent months, Afrik-Foot reports.

​The former Lille man joined the reigning Turkish champions from Napoli in a €75 million deal last summer, signing a contract that keeps him at RAMS Park until 2029.

However, the unending transfer speculation suggests he may not remain at the club for the duration of that deal.

​Osimhen has been linked with several top clubs, including Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Chelsea, Manchester United, and Barcelona, though no concrete developments have emerged.

Although the Galatasaray’s leadership has maintained that the Super Eagles star is not for sale, a future move cannot be ruled out.

​Even if a transfer were to materialize, it is becoming increasingly unlikely that Stamford Bridge will be Osimhen’s next destination.

​Why Victor Osimhen May Never Join Chelsea

​There has long been speculation that Osimhen has a soft spot for Chelsea. Given that his idol is Didier Drogba, many fans and even journalists previously assumed he would eventually follow in the Ivorian legend’s footsteps.

​However, that scenario appears highly unlikely due to the current transfer dynamics. Many may believe that the transfer fee — likely more than €100 million — would be the main hurdle, the complications are even deeper.

​Data from Capology indicates that Osimhen currently earns €288,000 net and €361,000 gross per week. In contrast, Chelsea’s highest earners, Wesley Fofana and Reece James, both earn €232,000 gross and €127,000 net.

The Blues enforce a very rigid wage structure, which prevents them from offering the exorbitant salaries like at other top clubs.

​Osimhen currently earns more than double what Chelsea’s top earners receive. Also, tax rates in England are significantly higher than those in Turkey. To match Osimhen’s current net take-home pay, Chelsea would likely have to offer him a gross salary close to €500,000 per week.

​This is a commitment the Chelsea ownership would be unwilling to make, as it would destroy their salary cap structure.

On the other hand, clubs like Barcelona, Real Madrid, Arsenal, and Manchester City have the financial flexibility to accommodate such wages.

​Asides from the salary constraints, Chelsea has also developed a recruitment policy that prioritizes signing players in their early 20s. At 27 years old, Osimhen falls way outside of that preferred age bracket.

​These factors make a potential deal between Osimhen and Chelsea highly complex. For this kind of transfer to take place, all the involved parties would need to make significant compromises.