Speculation around Victor Osimhen’s move to Chelsea remains firmly in the headlines. This comes after a heartwarming social media exchange with his Nigerian compatriot Raphael Onyedika.
Onyedika, who plays for Club Brugge, praised Osimhen as “The best ❤️ @victorosimhen,” and the 26-year-old striker replied with three red heart emojis. The exchange has intensified speculation around Osimhen’s future, especially against the backdrop of Chelsea’s ongoing search for a striker.
Osimhen has just finished an excellent loan stint with Galatasaray. He scored 36 goals across all competitions and guided the club to the Süper Lig and Turkish Cup. Unsurprisingly, his goal splurge has made him a hot transfer target.
The Blues, set to improve their attacking prowess alongside Nicolas Jackson, have been interested in Osimhen. But talks have stalled over Osimhen’s wage demands of more than €12 million per annum. This is reportedly more than Chelsea can currently afford under their wage structure.
The club are looking at innovative contract resolutions to try to bridge the gap. Meanwhile, Osimhen has shown preference in moving to Stamford Bridge, ahead of Manchester United, Arsenal, and other European options.
Chelsea legend John Obi Mikel has been in close company with Osimhen. The former midfielder strongly believes that the 26-year-old could successfully walk the path of Nigerian players who have made it big at Stamford Bridge.
As Chelsea build for next season, the addition of a forward of Osimhen’s quality might be the catalyst they need to return to the heights of English and European football. The club hierarchy has to balance its budgets, however, to keep pace with its ambition of collecting the best young talent.
Chelsea Remain Interested in Other Striker Targets
Chelsea are seriously pondering a plethora of striker possibilities to add some firepower to the front line. Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap, 22, is one of the options near the top of their wish list.
Delap netted 12 goals in the Premier League during the previous season and comes with a £30m buyout clause. The fact that he has been under manager Enzo Maresca at Manchester City adds to his appeal.
Another primary target is Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike. His £84m valuation, though, may prove to be a stumbling block. Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres is yet another whose name the Blues are considering.
RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko is also a possible signing. The 21-year-old Slovenian striker has an estimated worth of around £60 million and is viewed as a young talent of the future.