Osimhen told Chelsea should be his priority as Romano sends Lukaku ‘here we go’ message

Robin Bairner

• 16 Aug 2024 06:41 BST
• 3 min read

Victor Osimhen has been told to move to Chelsea by former Blues star Jon Obi Mikel, while Napoli appear to have made a definitive call on the future of Romelu Lukaku, according to football transfer news reporter Fabrizio Romano.

Chelsea have been embroiled in a lengthy battle to sign Osimhen from Napoli, with the Premier League club unable or unwilling to match the Serie A side’s demand of €130 million for the Nigeria international.

With two weeks remaining in the transfer window, Osimhen is still expected to move, with Enzo Maresca’s side and PSG the leading contenders to sign the 25-year-old.

READ MORE: Man Utd to get Ugarte boost from Chelsea and Osimhen

Compared

Victor Osimhen

F (C)

Napoli

Victor Osimhen

F (C)

Napoli

VS

Romelu Lukaku

F (C)

Chelsea

Romelu Lukaku

F (C)

Chelsea

€71.1M	ETV	€36.2M
€53.3M - €88.9M	ETV Range	€27.2M - €45.3M
25 years old (29 Dec, 1998)	Age	31 years old (13 May, 1993)
Nigeria	Nationality	Belgium

Obi Mikel has tried to sell Chelsea to his compatriot, telling him it would be a smart move to make.

“I hope that Chelsea fans finally get to see him at our club, I would like him to understand that Chelsea should become his absolute priority,” he told Gazzetta dello Sport. “It would be fantastic if he came to play here.”

Chelsea Transfer News Today: Osimhen CHALLENGE, Madueke PRICE TAG, Disasi to LEAVE?

Napoli make Lukaku decision

Romelu Lukaku has been seen as an ace that Chelsea hold in the deal because Napoli head coach Antonio Conte desperately wants the Belgium international star as a direct replacement for Osimhen. A part-exchange deal has been touted.

However, the Serie A club appears to have distanced itself from this possibility, instead making a decisive move for Benfica attacker David Neres, who had been touted as an alternative to Lukaku.

Fabrizio Romano reports: “Understand Napoli have all set for David Neres to travel on Sunday with medical tests right after, possible on Monday!

“Final details of deal worth fee close to €30m to be fixed in the next 48 hours with Benfica, then deal will be sealed.

“Here we go, soon.”

Lukaku to Napoli is not a possibility that has been definitely ruled out, but Neres’ imminent move to Naples certainly complicates the possibility, leaving both the Belgian and Chelsea’s hopes of landing Osimhen in limbo.