Chelsea steal march on Arsenal in race to sign £103m star, deal may already be agreed
According to reports from Football Transfers, Chelsea is currently the frontrunner to secure the services of Napoli’s prolific striker, Victor Osimhen, ahead of their London rivals, Arsenal, in the upcoming summer transfer window.
Victor Osimhen has risen to prominence with his remarkable goal-scoring performances at Napoli, establishing himself as one of the world’s top strikers, alongside Manchester City’s Erling Haaland.
Over the past three seasons at Napoli, Osimhen has consistently found the back of the net. Since his move from Lille in Ligue 1, he has made 104 appearances in various competitions, tallying an impressive 62 goals and providing 14 assists.
In the previous season alone, he scored an outstanding 31 goals and contributed five assists in 39 matches, playing a pivotal role in Napoli’s Serie A title win, their first in 33 years. Osimhen also made history by becoming the first African player to claim the Serie A Golden Boot, thanks to his 26 goals in 32 league games.
His exceptional performances led to him being named Serie A’s Best Striker last season, and he played a crucial role in helping Napoli reach the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.
In the current season, Osimhen has continued his goal-scoring form, netting three times in as many league games, contributing to Napoli’s six points out of a possible nine before the international break.
Before joining Napoli, Osimhen scored 18 goals and provided six assists in 38 games for Lille, showcasing his development into one of the world’s most prolific strikers.
Unsurprisingly, Osimhen’s remarkable form has attracted the attention of several top European clubs, with Manchester United and PSG heavily linked with him in the previous summer transfer window. While Osimhen ultimately stayed at Napoli, anticipation is already building for his potential move next year.
Reportedly, Arsenal has identified Osimhen as a key target for the 2024 summer window and has engaged in “meaningful” discussions with Napoli about a possible transfer.
However, Chelsea is said to have an advantage over their London rivals. According to the report, they may have already reached an agreement to sign Osimhen next summer. This decision stems from Chelsea’s confidence in securing Osimhen’s signature.
Osimhen is currently valued at £103 million according to Transfermarkt, which means Chelsea would need to make a substantial financial commitment to secure the deal. Nevertheless, if they succeed in bringing Osimhen to West London, it would be considered a fantastic signing due to his prolific goal-scoring record.