Agent reveals Chelsea already working on Osimhen deal

Tom Weber

• 25 Jan 2024 10:58 GMT
• 3 min read

Chelsea are already working on signing Victor Osimhen, while a move from Arsenal has been completely ruled out by a football agent.

The Nigerian sharpshooter shocked the football world on Tuesday by announcing that he has already made a decision on his future, hinting that he will depart Napoli in the summer. "At the end of the season, I think I already made up my mind,” Osimhen told CBS.

“I already know what I want to do with my career. Since I started, I've been the one making my own decisions and everything is working out well for me. Even though when I started it, it didn't go so well as planned."

“But I already have my plan, I already know what I want to do, the next step I want to take. So for now I just want to finish the season strong, go relax somewhere with my daughter, and then finally come up with the decision I've already made."

According to football agent Paolo Palermo, Chelsea are already trying to engineer a deal for the Napoli star. A move from Arsenal, meanwhile, has been ruled, echoing FootballTransfers' exclusive reporting from December.

What did Palermo say?

Speaking to TV Play on Twitch, Palermo asserted that Osimhen's comments while away on Africa Cup of Nations duties with Nigeria are a "prelude to a summer farewell."

“I’ve said since he renewed that he was leaving," Palermo continued. "Extending the contract for just one year means having already sold him, otherwise they would renew it for four years. They put the card on the player and also on the player’s contract."

“I think someone has already joined; I think Chelsea. Those who can spend €120-130 million are Chelsea, [Man] City, [Man] United and Liverpool, I don’t think Arsenal. Tottenham could also do it but they have a salary cap of €6-7m, Osimhen already earns €10m.”