Chelsea legend Marcel Desailly has urged his former club to make another attempt to sign Victor Osimhen before the summer transfer window closes following Nicolas Jackson’s £65 million move to Aston Villa.
Jackson’s departure was confirmed by Aston Villa on Friday, with the Senegal international completing a permanent transfer after three years at Stamford Bridge. The deal is worth an initial £47.5m, with a further £17.5m potentially due in add-ons.
The 25-year-old leaves Chelsea having scored 30 goals in 81 appearances across all competitions, although his time in west London was regularly marked by questions over his consistency and finishing. He also spent last season on loan at Bayern Munich, where he helped the German side win domestic silverware.
With Jackson now joining Aston Villa, Chelsea have another significant attacking vacancy to address, particularly after Liam Delap also completed a £50m move to Nottingham Forest. The Blues are therefore expected to remain active in the final days of the transfer window as Xabi Alonso continues reshaping his squad.
Desailly believes Chelsea should use the opportunity to revisit their long-standing interest in Osimhen.
The Nigeria international has repeatedly been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge and remains one of Europe’s most prolific centre-forwards. He joined Galatasaray permanently from Napoli in 2025 for a reported €75m and has continued to establish himself as a dominant goalscorer in Turkish football
‘Osimhen, absolutely. He brings spirit and respect, strong respect from opponents and from his teammates,’ Desailly told Metro via SportsCasting.
‘He can be a bit unpredictable sometimes, but you need that kind of player who can justify his stature and his behaviour through performance, but also through a bit of controversy. He’s strong, and he can bring that spirit to CHELSEA.
‘As for Jackson, he’s gone to Aston Villa now. Honestly, I would have brought in a proper number-nine type striker. The problem is there aren’t many strikers out there who could help Chelsea in the long run.’
The Jackson departure has created both a problem and an opportunity. CHELSEA have received a substantial fee for a forward who divided opinion among supporters, and reinvesting some of that money in a proven goalscorer could transform Alonso’s attacking options.
Osimhen would not come cheaply, but his track record suggests he could provide something Chelsea desperately need: reliable goals.
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