Opinion: Chelsea should do all they can to strike deal for in-demand forward

Chelsea are seemingly preparing for a potentially busy January transfer window, with the Blues reportedly eyeing a move for Napoli forward Victor Osimhen. The London-based side have previously been interested in a deal to sign the 24-year-old, but for one reason or another, a move failed to materialise in the summer. 

Osimhen has caught the eye with plenty of strong performances for Napoli over the years, and scored 31 goals in 39 appearances for the club last season, as they won a much-deserved Serie A title.

He’s not been as prolific for Napoli so far in the 2023/24 season though, as Osimhen has scored six goals in his 12 matches so far in all competitions, and his slight lack of goals has seen Napoli lose ground on their title-chasing rivals this term, which will be hugely frustrating for the club’s supporters. They’re fourth in the Italian top-flight and will know that they face a tough battle to keep hold of their talisman, who has been key to their success in recent years. 

A move to the Premier League with Chelsea could be tempting for Osimhen, especially if they can give him first-team assurances. The Premier League is known for being one of the best in the world, and for any player, you’d imagine that they’ll be eager to test themselves in this league. 

Speaking to MyBettingSites, former England and Liverpool winger John Barnes felt as though Osimhen would be a ‘great signing’ for Chelsea, and labelled him as the last piece of the jigsaw for Mauricio Pochettino’s side. 

“He would absolutely be a great signing. A few teams are after him because he scores a lot of goals.

“If Chelsea can get him he won’t be the last piece of the jigsaw but he’ll score goals and always has done. He would be a great signing for Chelsea.”

It remains to be seen as to whether Chelsea can strike an agreement with Napoli for the Nigerian international’s services, although it’s worth remembering that any potential debut for Osimhen would likely be delayed until after the African Cup of Nations, which is set to take place in the New Year. 

You’d expect him to head straight into the starting XI for Chelsea as well, with Nicolas Jackson struggling for consistency in front of goal so far this term for the Blues, who are considerably far off the pace in terms of their top-six ambitions. They’re tenth in the table, and were recently thrashed by Newcastle United, and so it’s clear to see there’s room for improvement if they’re to get back to their glory days, which will feel a considerable amount of time away nowadays. 

Armando Broja is another option for Mauricio Pochettino, but given the striker’s injury problems over the years, it seems unlikely that he’ll be given the trust to lead the line for Chelsea moving forwards. Osimhen is a player they’ve been targeting for a couple of years now, and he’d be an excellent addition to their team. 

The Blues need goals in their team, and the Nigerian international would certainly provide them with that. He could take some convincing to come over though, with Chelsea unlikely to be playing European football next season, but with their financial position, they should be able to land his signature before the end of the January transfer window.