EXCLUSIVE: Chelsea ahead of Arsenal in race for No.1 target Osimhen
Steve Kay
- Updated: 12 Sep 2023 03:54 CDT
- 3 min read
Exclusive
Chelsea have had multiple conversations with Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, who is the club’s No.1 target for the 2024 summer transfer window and are leading the race to sign the 24-year-old star, sources have indicated to FootballTransfers.
Osimhen is one of the hottest properties in world football presently, having enjoyed three prolific seasons with Napoli in Serie A.
The Italian club have already fought off interest from several sources over the course of recent weeks, with Manchester United, Chelsea and PSG particularly interested in the former Lille man.
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The Nigeria international striker, who has an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €79 million had also been linked with a potential €200m move to the Saudi Pro League this summer, which prompted president Aurelio De Laurentiis to quip that he will consider bids from the €500m mark in 2024.
FootballTransfers, meanwhile, exclusively revealed that Arsenal will seek to land the player next summer.
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Chelsea appear to have taken the jump on their London rivals with regards Osimhen’s future, however.
FootballTransfers understands that the Blues have their eyes fixed on the forward.
Osimhen to Chelsea already agreed?
Sources have indicated that there is a possibility that a deal may already have been agreed upon with the star, hence the lack of effort made to bring in an elite striker during the summer, when Chelsea settled for the promising Nicolas Jackson.
Arsenal have had meaningful contact with Napoli but Chelsea are now favourites to land Osimhen, who has scored 62 goals in 104 appearances for the Serie A outfit, next summer.
Chelsea have enquired about Brentford striker Ivan Toney as an alternative, but it is FootballTransfers’ understanding that their interest in the hitman, who is presently serving a ban for gambling offences, goes no further than that.
Osimhen, though, is the leading priority for Mauricio Pochettino’s side and a player they want to complete a transfer for at the end of the current season.
