Chelsea could revisit Victor Osimhen transfer in January with £40m discount

Chelsea had Victor Osimhen on their radar in the summer before he headed to Turkey on loan but a drop in his release clause could see the Blues return for a cut-price transfer

Chelsea could move for Victor Osimhen once again in January having missed out on him in the summer.

The Nigerian has been hugely prolific in Italy in recent years, previously helping Napoli claim the Serie A title, but it became clear he had no future at the club once Antonio Conte arrived and pursued the signing of Romelu Lukaku.

Osimhen’s future remained unclear up until deadline day in the Premier League and Chelsea opted against pursuing a move with Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Ahli having a bid accepted, before they chose to go in a different direction and sign Ivan Toney from Brentford.

It has left Osimhen playing his football at Galatasaray, who signed him on loan. The Nigerian’s long-term future remains unclear and the £109million release clause he had in the summer has now expired with a fresh figure of £68m becoming active in January.

Corriere dello Sport reports that Osimhen himself is keen on a move to Chelsea and would entertain the prospect in the New Year should the Blues come calling. Next summer, when he returns to Napoli, his release clause will drop further to just £63m.

That figure though is not available to any other Serie A club, prohibiting a rival from getting the striker on the cheap, which means he would likely have to move abroad.

Osimhen has already scored two goals and provided four assists during four appearances for the Turkish club. He also has less than two years remaining on his deal with Napoli, which expires in the summer of 2026.

The 25-year-old scored more than 30 times in the year that Napoli claimed the title and has had several of Europe’s big hitters chasing him in the past. Osimhen has also talked up the prospect of playing in the Premier League in the future and has been seen talking to fellow African icon Didier Drogba in the past.

Chelsea themselves have begun the season well despite all the talk of their over populated squad in the summer. Strikers Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson have scored 11 goals between them so far this season as the Blues begin impressively under Enzo Maresca.

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