Chelsea have been linked with a move for Victor Osimhen.placeholder image
Chelsea have been linked with a move for Victor Osimhen. | Getty Images
Fabrizio Romano has claimed that Premier League clubs are still in the running for a Victor Osimhen deal.
Chelsea and Manchester United have been handed a boost in any potential transfer pursuit of Napoli striker Victor Osimhen this summer with transfer guru Fabrizio Romano confirming that Premier League clubs are still very much in the race for the bagsman.
The 26-year-old is expected to leave Napoli this summer after spending the 2024/25 campaign on loan at Turkish side Galatasaray. Osimhen scored 37 goals across 41 matches for the club on loan, winning the Super Lig and Turkish Club.
Osimhen was heavily linked with a move to Chelsea last year with that transfer debacle dragging on all summer, before his move to Turkey was confirmed. Enzo Maresca has already added Ipswich Town forward Liam Delap to his squad for £30 million but could look for extra experience to lead the line.
Chelsea and Man Utd still in Victor Osimhen race
Despite the constant links to the Premier League, it had looked as if English clubs could be out of the race for Osimhen. Saudi giants Al Hilal had been in talks with the star ahead of the Club World Cup and Galatasaray are also known to be keen to re-sign the player.
However, in a new update, Romano has suggested that the player’s future is far from a foregone conclusion. He told his YouTube channel: “My understanding is that Al Hilal are still not giving up on Victor Osimhen. Al Hilal have not left the conversations and remain interested in Osimhen, attentive to the situation. Al Hilal believe that other clubs can’t compare their financial proposal to Victor Osimhen and this is why they want to try, despite the player rejecting to play the Club World Cup again, they want to try again because they had an agreement ready with Napoli and they want to try again on the player’s side.
“Al Hilal are expected to return for Victor Osimhen. Let’s see what the player decides. There is Galatasaray still trying and interest from the Premier League. There are several solutions for Osimhen, it’s going to be on the player. The intention of Galatasaray is to try but also Al Hilal are not giving up and are still there, still offering big money to Victor Osimhen.”
Al Hilal preparing mega contract offer
Chelsea are set to face competition for Osimhen from Premier League rivals Manchester United. According to Italy's Gazzetta dello Sport, the Red Devils are looking to offer Joshua Zirkzee to Napoli in a swap package deal for Osimhen. The player is said to be available for £63.7 million this summer.
Osimhen has previously shared his desire to play in the Premier League, which could help Chelsea and Manchester United when competing with the lucrative finances of Al Hilal. Turkish journalist Yagiz Sabuncuoglbelieves that the Saudi club’s contract offer could see Osimhen earn an eye-watering £42.6 million a year but the striker is said to be adamant that he will not move to Saudi Arabia.
When playing in France earlier on in his career, Osimhen told The Independent: "Of course, one day I’d like to play for a big club in England. I've spoken to Odion [Ighalo] about it. He gave me very good advice, he’s a legend and a big brother. My goal is to play at one of the biggest clubs in the world but now I’m very happy in Lille. My priority is to play a lot of games. Signing for a big club and being on the bench is not exciting for me."
In other news, 'Deal Done': Chelsea goalkeeper set to join League One outfit.
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