Chelsea give Napoli condition to sign Osimhen

Chelsea remain interested in signing Napoli striker Victor Osimhen but have set a specific condition, likely a loan deal for the Nigerian star, according to Metro.

Napoli had initially agreed to let Osimhen leave at the start of the summer transfer window, but the club’s president, Aurelio de Laurentiis, has been holding out for a team willing to pay the striker’s €130 million (£110.8 million) release clause.

The hefty price tag has deterred both Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), who have shown interest in signing the Nigerian striker. Chelsea had been on the verge of securing a new striker, having agreed on a €40 million (£34.5 million) deal with Atletico Madrid for Samu Omorodion. However, that move fell through over the weekend due to disagreements over personal terms.

According to The Telegraph, Chelsea are monitoring up to four striker options, including Osimhen. The report suggests that Chelsea would only pursue Osimhen if Napoli agreed to an initial loan deal. However, this approach may face obstacles, as Osimhen’s agent, Roberto Calenda, has dismissed the notion of his client leaving Napoli on a reduced-price deal.

“I’ve read about unfounded imaginary trades involving Victor, shipped around like a package ready for delivery,” Calenda wrote on X last month. “But remember that this ‘package’ is the top scorer of the third Scudetto in Naples’ history. Respect and no more fake news!”

Meanwhile, Napoli’s sporting director, Giovanni Manna, confirmed over the weekend that Osimhen expressed his desire to leave the club before the transfer window closes. Speaking ahead of Napoli’s Coppa Italia victory against Modena, Manna stated, “Victor Osimhen has asked to leave the club. He wants to go. The situation is clear; there were already chances for his exit last summer. Victor wants to leave. We will see in the next 20 days.”

Manna reportedly travelled to London on Tuesday to finalise deals with Chelsea for Romelu Lukaku and with Brighton for Billy Gilmour.