How Chelsea will line up with Victor Osimhen

Chelsea are set to complete the blockbuster signing of star striker Victor Osimhen from Napoli.

Osimhen has been linked to several top clubs over the last few years, including Real Madrid and Manchester United, but it seems he has chosen West London as his destination as an exit from Napoli looms close.

"Victor Osimhen has asked to leave the club," said Napoli sporting director Giovanni Manna. "He wants to go. We will see in the next 20 days."

With his Napoli departure all but confirmed, reports are heavily insinuating that after a protracted transfer saga, Chelsea look like they have finally secured their long-term target at striker with a swap deal including cash and Romelu Lukaku could be how it gets done.

Osimhen was a tremendous success at Napoli, scoring 76 goals in 133 games and famously firing the side to win their first Serie A title since Diego Maradona. He finished that 2022-23 season as Capocannoniere (top scorer).

Now Chelsea will be hoping he can bring that clinical edge to Stamford Bridge, something the Blues had previously been lacking with strikers like Nicolas Jackson.

How Chelsea will line-up with Victor Osimhen

Chelsea's squad is enormous. As of writing they have well over 40 senior players on their books, as per their club website.

They could put out two completely different and yet coherent starting XI's, so obviously there will be a lot of rotation throughout the season. So in truth there are many combinations of players that could end up in a Chelsea XI.

Taking pre-season as our guide, 4-2-3-1 would be the formation of choice for new manager Enzo Maresca as he looks to bring a bit of that Manchester City magic to Stamford Bridge.

In goal Robert Sanchez will more than likely continue as the undisputed number 1 for now, although it's hard to not see the Blues spending big on a goalkeeper in a year.

Right-back is a tricky spot because when fully fit, club captain Reece James is surely going to be the starter here. But the Englishman's injury woes should leave plenty of minutes on the pitch for Malo Gusto.

Chelsea have lots of centre-backs from which to pick, but wonderkid Levi Colwill and new signing Tosin Adarabioyo are probably the best of the bunch - although Wesley Fofana's return to fitness could provide both men with serious competition.

Left-back is somewhat similar to right-back in that Chelsea have a quality Englishman who cannot stay fit, in this case Ben Chilwell, who could play. However misfit Marc Cucurella showed at Euro 2024 this summer with Spain that is he is wonderfully suited to being part of an intense and structured pressing side - just like the one Maresca will be hoping to build at Chelsea.

READ MORE: Another Chelsea dressing room CRISIS as Man Utd pounce

Chelsea spent more than €200 million combined on Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo, and they are a wonderfully complimentary duo in terms of skill sets, so they will no doubt be the starters in the double pivot despite Fernandez's auditory indiscretions after the Copa America with Argentina.

This position is essential to modern football and the Blues have two superb talents in that spot and even with Conor Gallagher likely to leave, they have the talented Romeo Lavia as back-up.

After an injury-hit debut season in England, Christopher Nkunku is finally fit and ready to claim his spot as Chelsea's no. 10. Expect goals from the Frenchman.

Right-wing belongs to one man and one man only: the penalty expert himself Cole Palmer. The Englishman scored an impressive 25 goals last season and will be keen to do better this coming campaign.

On the left is another "if fit" player: new signing Pedro Neto. The Portuguese is a rocket when he's healthy but keeping him that way is tricky. Still, Chelsea have a solid back-up in Raheem Sterling.

READ MORE: Chelsea AGREE to Osimhen-Lukaku SWAP deal

Up-front Chelsea signed Marc Guiu from Barcelona earlier in the summer but the Catalan now looks like he'll either be loaned out or stuck with a severe back-up role as Osimhen waltzes in to lead the line with the profligate Nicolas Jackson as his understudy.

GK: Robert Sanchez

RB: Reece James

CB: Tosin Adarabioyo

CB: Levi Colwill

LB: Marc Cucurella

CDM: Moises Caicedo

CDM: Enzo Fernández

CAM: Christopher Nkunku

RW: Cole Palmer

LW: Pedro Neto

ST: Victor Osimhen