Chelsea have reportedly made a significant move in their pursuit to sign Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, with an offer that includes Romelu Lukaku plus €90 million in cash.
According to Italian journalist and transfer expert Gianluca Di Marzio, Chelsea are exploring to tempt Napoli with a part-exchange deal for Osimhen.
The proposed deal involves Chelsea offering Romelu Lukaku, along with a young player and €90 million in cash, to entice Napoli into selling Osimhen.
The move comes as Napoli’s current director, Giovanni Manna, had expressed interest in Lukaku last summer when he was at Juventus.
“The English club (Chelsea) are trying to understand the feasibility of an €80/€90 million operation with the inclusion of Lukaku plus a young player in the negotiation,” as quoted by Gianluca Di Marzio.
“Lukaku is a target of the next sporting director Giovanni Manna, who already wanted to bring him to Juventus in an exchange with Vlahovic. The will of both Osimhen and Lukaku must also be clearly understood.”
Osimhen, who joined Napoli from Lille in 2020, has been in impressive form, scoring 75 goals and providing 18 assists in 130 appearances for the club.
His performances have attracted interest from several top clubs in Europe, including Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and PSG.
Chelsea’s offer, as reported by Di Marzio, includes €90 million in cash along with Lukaku and a young player.
The inclusion of Lukaku, who is currently on loan at Roma, adds value to the deal. Lukaku’s market value is estimated at €30 million, making the total offer enticing for Napoli, especially considering Osimhen’s €130 million buyout clause.
While negotiations are ongoing, Chelsea’s lucrative bid demonstrates their determination to strengthen their squad by acquiring Osimhen.
While the potential acquisition of Osimhen brings optimism to Chelsea, there are doubts surrounding Lukaku’s willingness to leave AS Roma.
Reports also suggest that the 30-year-old Belgian striker wants to remain at Roma after enjoying a successful loan spell with the club this season.
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