Chelsea has been ever so busy this transfer window. Clearlake has been signing an average of one player every three days since the transfer window opened.
That statistic may sound scary to those who have not paid attention to the details. However, there is more than meets the eye. The majority of the players Chelsea have been signing have not been meant to remain with the first team. Many are to be loaned out, to various clubs, including Strasbourg, a club under the same ownership as Chelsea.
Of the recently signed players to remain under Enzo Maresca’s guidance, that is yet to be decided. Pedro Neto and Marc Guiu are Chelsea’s biggest signings so far this summer, and even Guiu’s future is still unsure. That is despite great performances from the Spaniard during Chelsea’s preseason campaign.
Chelsea’s next big move is still in talks. The Blues have just completed the signing of João Félix and are rumoured to be close to bringing Victor Osimhen to the Bridge. The former was already part of Chelsea’s squad in early 2023 as a loanee, while the latter has been admired by the Blues for a long time now.
“Victor Osimhen has asked to leave the club
“He wants to go. We will see in the next 20 days.” – said Napoli sporting director Giovanni Manna.
Oshimen has made it clear that he is ready to leave Napoli. The Nigerian striker seems likened to a deal with Chelsea, however there are some complications.
Huddles in the Race
As much as Chelsea has wanted the 2022/23 Napoli top scorer for a long while, as of now, they seem more interested in giving him a loan deal. However, Osimhen would prefer a more permanent deal, a loan off the table. Initially, the other complication was in relation to Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku, who has been a part of the club since August 2021.
After a not-so-successful and quiet return to the Bridge, Lukaku has since been loaned out to Inter Milan and Roma. Neither of the two signed Lukaku after the loans, despite Chelsea being open to bids. Chelsea has been open to bids for Lukaku from other clubs as well, which is where Napoli has come into the picture.
It was thought that there would be a swap deal, with Chelsea taking Osimhen and Napoli taking Lukaku. According to Fabrizio Romano, the two deals are actually separate.
Napoli has already allegedly agreed on terms with the Belgian, but has not yet offered a transfer fee that Chelsea would be satisfied with. As for the Osimhen deal, the refusal of a loan deal is not the only complication. Of late, Chelsea has reduced the salaries they pay to their players. Oshimen’s camp has turned down any salary reductions.
Also in the race to sign the Nigerian is Paris Saint-Germain. Should PSG offer a better deal to Osimhen’s camp, the Premier League side may well lose out on a player they have sought after for so long. Not only that, Chelsea would be losing out on a player that would strengthen their squad.
Why Chelsea Needs Oshimen
With a largely young squad, it is more than obvious why Chelsea could do with Osimhen’s presence.
Of Chelsea’s current squad, only a handful have first-team experience beyond one season. However, Chelsea are set to let go of some of those players – Trevor Chalobah, Conor Gallagher and Ben Chillwell. Conor Gallagher has just signed with Atletico Madrid following Chelsea’s deal with the Spanish side for João Félix. The other two are yet to leave as things stand, but appear to have been excluded from first-team activities and privileges.
This will undoubtedly humper Chelsea, as they will be losing out on handy experience. They will also be losing out on leadership, as each of those three players has worn the captain’s armband on multiple occasions. Not to mention, Ben Chilwell is the vice-captain of the squad, whilst Gallagher and Chalobah are products of Chelsea’s academy.
Whilst Osimhen might have no Premier League experience, he has vital first-team experience. He has been a strong force in both Napoli and Nigeria’s attack, and has made quite the name for himself. He has the experience many of the young players at Chelsea currently lack. The chances are high that Osimhen’s presence at the Bridge will have a positive impact both on and off the pitch.
If Chelsea do succeed in signing Oshimen, this could mean that Nicolas Jackson could lose his spot on the starting XI, or may see his position shift from time to time. Oshimen as Chelsea’s leading striker will strengthen Chelsea’s attack.
A striker like Jackson could learn a great deal from Osimhen. Whilst Jackson definitely is an improvement from Chelsea’s previous strikers in seasons past, there is still large room for growth. Having a young but somewhat established striker come into the team could be positive for Jackson’s development, which overall is great for both the player and Chelsea in the long term.
A front three of Cole Palmer, exciting new signing Pedro Neto and Victor Osimhen seems likely from Enzo Maresca. Osimhen leading that front three could see Chelsea convert more opportunities into goals, and see the Blues have a much better season.
With Chelsea aiming to continue fixing their goal-scoring issue, Osimhen would be a great addition to bolster the attack. At Napoli, the Nigerian scored 76 goals in 133 games. He played a crucial role in Napoli winning their first Serie A title since Diego Maradona, finishing that 2022/23 season as the top scorer (Capocannoniere). The numbers are promising, and may well change Chelsea’s fate for the better.