Osimhen sacrificed for Omorodion: Chelsea’s latest BlueCo blunder

Updated: 7 Aug 2024 11:50 BST
5 min read

Victor Osimhen, Samu Omorodion, Chelsea — © IMAGO

Chelsea’s transfer policy in the BlueCo era has been unexplainable at times.

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At first, it might have been teething problems, yet the puzzling actions of the Blues in the market continue at a pace in what is now the third summer under Todd Boehly’s ownership.

Just short of €1.2 billion has been spent on this squad, yet after a sixth-placed finish last season, they appear little better equipped to move up the standings this time around.

A prolific centre-forward would, of course, help. Chelsea have been chasing such a player for months but have been unable to land one.

Now, however, it appears they are getting close to signing in this area.

Samu Omorodion, a 20-year-old from Atletico Madrid, is set to arrive to provide competition for Nicolas Jackson.

READ MORE: Latest Chelsea transfer rumours

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Victor Osimhen

Samu Omorodion

He is not the player Chelsea really wanted. Victor Osimhen has been the Blues’ leading target, yet they have been priced out of the market by Napoli’s demand that the forward’s €120 million asking price was met. Interest remains but the prospect of a deal looks slim.

Omorodion may be cheaper at €40m, according to Fabrizio Romano, but there is no doubt Osimhen would offer better value at little over double the price.

The squad is already huge; it’s long overdue that quality became the main concern. This deal shows that BlueCo have not reached this level of maturity in their transfer business.

Chelsea’s false economy

Chelsea are poised to pay nearly four times the Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of the Atletico Madrid striker, which sits at €12.1m. Osimhen is also more expensive than his ETV of €71.1m, but in percentage terms of total transfer cost, not nearly so significantly.

Logically, this is a case of signing one or the other, which has been confirmed by Gianluca Di Marzio, who says the Blues will give up on Osimhen if they land Omorodion.

It is decisions like this that make Chelsea’s transfer policy so puzzling. Around €70m was spent on the untested Mykhailo Mudryk, a record €121m on Enzo Fernandez, who had been available for around €10m six months earlier, and €80m for the injury-prone Wesley Fofana.

Now a genuinely world-class option who they need to progress is dreaming of a move to Stamford Bridge and they will not make the deal but instead pay well above the odds for a player who has just nine top-flight career goals – fewer than Osimhen has managed in any individual season in the last six years.

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2023/2024

Season Statistics

2023/2024

36	Appearances	32
9	Goals	17
1	Assists	4
28	Shots On Target	47
70	Shots Total	106
6	Yellow Cards	6

Of course, the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) are a complication, but the Nigeria ace is the type of move Chelsea need to make stick.

Wages, too, are a consideration in the Blues’ thinking, but world-class players inevitably come at a cost.

In this regard, Omorodion will be much cheaper than Osimhen, yet the cost for the Stamford Bridge side is a striker who is of a far lesser ability – and who is never likely to get close to his Nigerian counterpart.

© IMAGO - Samu Omorodion spent last season on loan at Alaves

Chelsea are working in a false economy.

Yes, they are saving money going out in the short and even medium term, but to the cost of their long-term prospects of challenging for the Premier League title or even for a place in the top four.

At €40m, Omorodion represents a significant gamble – the type of which BlueCo have constantly misjudged. Osimhen is more expensive but is as close to a sure thing as possible in the current market.

Chelsea need to pick one or the other, and instead of moving heaven and earth to land the superior option, it appears they will take the easy route and overpay for the younger star.

Read more about: La Liga, Serie A, Premier League, Atlético, Chelsea, Napoli, Samu Omorodion, Victor Osimhen