CHELSEA are willing to fork out £77million AND Romelu Lukaku for Victor Osimhen this summer, according to reports.
The Blues are set to retool once again following another disappointing season.
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With Mauricio Pochettino‘s side looking light up front at times this term, signing a new striker will be on the agenda.
According to Italian transfer expert DiMarzio, the Blues have made initial contact with Napoli regarding a deal for Osimhen.
The 25-year-old has been among Serie A‘s best strikers since moving to Italy from Lille in 2020.
With two years remaining on his contract, this could be the summer that Napoli look to cash in on the Nigerian.
Chelsea are claimed to be willing to use forgotten man Lukaku in a deal to sign Osimhen.
The Belgian, 30, rejoined the Blues in a disastrous £97.5m deal in 2021.
He has spent the last two seasons out on loan – firstly at Inter Milan then this time around at Roma.
With two years also still remaining on his deal, the Blues will look to get his salary off their wage bill for good this summer.
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In addition to £77m plus Lukaku, Chelsea are also claimed to be willing to throw in a young player to sweeten the deal.
Osimhen helped Napoli to a historic Serie A title victory last season.
This time around he has scored 14 goals in 22 appearances, having missed chunks of the campaign due to a hamstring injury and Afcon.
Lukaku, meanwhile, has netted 11 goals in 29 Serie A appearances for Roma, with 19 in all competitions.
Chelsea are likely to face strong competition for Osimhen’s signature.
Paris Saint-Germain hold interest in the striker, and plan to enter negotiations imminently.
The French champions are set to lose Kylian Mbappe this summer, with the forward confirming that he will be leaving Parc des Princes upon the conclusion of his contract.
Dave Kidd: Why I’ve voted for Cole Palmer to be Footballer of the Year despite Chelsea woes
By Dave Kidd
THE voting for the Footballer of the Year award closes on Tuesday and, unlike many, I’ve gone for Cole Palmer.
Most Football Writers’ Association members vote by starting with the likely Prem champs and work backwards. So the winner will be Phil Foden, Rodri, Declan Rice or Martin Odegaard.
There is dissent if a player from a less successful team wins, like David Ginola from mid-table Spurs in Manchester United’s ’99 Treble- winning year.
But enjoying a superb individual season in a poor team is a greater achievement.
And for Palmer — just 21 and in his first season as a regular starter — to have chalked up 23 goals and 13 assists in such a basket-case team as Chelsea, makes him this season’s outstanding player.
Read Dave Kidd’s full column here
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