- 15 hours ago
Chelsea close in on Osimhen! Transfer fee ‘no issue’ as Napoli ace ‘eager’ to sign
Robin Bairner
- 28 Aug 2024 11:41 BST
- 4 min read
Victor Osimhen’s prospective move to Chelsea has taken a big stride towards completion, with the Napoli striker ready to agree personal terms with the Stamford Bridge club and a club-to-club agreement close.
Chelsea have spent much of the summer chasing the 25-year-old Nigeria international, with the major stumbling block Napoli’s insistence that any club pays the striker’s full €130 million release clause.
The Serie A side may now be ready to buckle under the pressure, though, with the BBC's Nizaar Kinsella stating that a "club-to-club fee" is "unlikely to be an issue".
Football transfer news expert Rudy Galetti previously reported that the Blues had taken a big step towards a move by finding a “general understanding” with Osimhen over personal terms.
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Current ETV
Victor Osimhen
F (C)
Napoli
Victor Osimhen
F (C)
Napoli
ETV Range
€53.3M - €88.9M
“Chelsea have reached a general understanding on personal terms with Victor Osimhen,” he said.
“The Premier League club is ready to discuss a proposal with Napoli for the striker.
“A move to Saudi Arabia is not an option as the teams there are no longer interested.
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He added: “Personal terms are no longer an issue, with the striker eager to join Chelsea.
“Now it’s up to the clubs: talks between Napoli and Chelsea are at a key stage, with payment terms under discussion.
“The English team still wants to add a player to the deal.”
Osimhen earns around €11m per year at Napoli and reportedly agreed personal terms worth around €12m a year with PSG.
BBC correspondent Kinsella was not so forthright regarding a contract agreement but did indicate that talks have taken place and offered Chelsea significant hope a deal can be struck.
He tweeted: "Chelsea have been discussing personal terms with Victor Osimhen to see whether a deal is viable, with other strikers on the shortlist. Club-to-club fee unlikely to be an issue. Last minute nature of the talks gives a chance to squeeze Napoli, who are under pressure to sell."
Saudi still a threat?
Chelsea appear to have outlasted both the Ligue 1 side and Arsenal in the chase for Osimhen, but the shadow of a big-money move from the Middle East remains over them after Fabrizio Romano revealed interest from Al-Hilal.
Galetti, though, says that’s not a problem – for the moment.
“To date, no Saudi Pro League team is in the race for Osimhen. That’s something that could change after the market closes in Europe in case of no agreement between Napoli and Chelsea. The Saudi window will remain open, but, as of now, Victor is no longer a target for the Saudi Pro League,” he concluded.
