Chelsea ready to break transfer record AGAIN with January Osimhen move
Tom Weber
- Updated: 27 Nov 2023 15:14 GMT
- 3 min read
Chelsea are ready to launch a January bid for Victor Osimhen, according to a report.
A lot has been made of the Nigerian's Napoli future. In the summer, he rejected approaches from Europe's elite and incredibly lucrative Saudi offers to remain with the side he had fired to their first Scudetto in 33 years. Napoli and Osimhen appeared to be a match made in heaven.
But even the happiest couples fall on tough times and the mood has changed dramatically in the South of Italy. Under Rudi Garcia, Napoli struggled to recapture last season's form, and the Frenchman has been fired and replaced by Walter Mazzarri. Off the pitch, too, things haven't been easy for the 24-year-old with his club publically ridiculing their striker on TikTok, which prompted him to threaten legal action.
Contract talks have stalled and transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has asserted that Osimhen will be one to watch in 2024. While the Italian was referring to the summer transfer window, a fresh report claims that Osimhen's most determined suitors, Chelsea, could bring their pursuit forward and already attempt a January swoop.
Chelsea ready to break record
At least that's according to 90min, which reports that the Blues could launch a winter offensive to test Napoli's resolve. The Italians, unsurprisingly, have no intention to let their star striker depart but could be forced to sell if contract talks fail to advance.
Chelsea are well aware that it will require a massive financial outlay to pry Osimhen away from the Serie A giants, with the final fee likely exceeding the record €134 million they shelled out on Moises Caicedo in the summer.
With Trevoh Chalobah and perhaps Ian Maatsen to leave in January, the free-spending Blues are optimistic that they could muster the financial resources to tempt Napoli into selling.
