Chelsea might have unleashed a tsunami of financial power onto the Premier League scene since the arrival of new owner Todd Boehly last year, but it appears that a further hefty sum will be parted with this summer in order to fine-tune the wayward outfit.
What’s the latest on Osimhen to Chelsea?
According to reports, devastating Napoli forward Victor Osimhen has been on Chelsea’s radar for several months, with his release clause of €100m (£88m) leaving but a handful of suitors feasibly in contention to land his signature later his year.
And now, writing for the Daily Mail, former professional Pat Nevin has expressed his belief that the Blues must throw the kitchen sink at the striker.
In his column, he wrote: “They want somebody at the right end of their career who can become like Didier Drogba. I would get Victor Osimhen from Napoli if it was up to me.”
With Chelsea’s offensive fluidity the clearly discernible area in need of bolstering, the chances of a bid for a superlative striking force such as Osimhen grow more likely by the week.
Could Osimhen really be the Drogba heir?
Since arriving to head the boardroom at Stamford Bridge, Boehly has spent more than £550m on new arrivals, but despite this remarkable spending splurge, including £288m this January, the centre-forward position remains largely untouched.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, now 33 years old, was signed in the summer from FC Barcelona, but has managed three goals all season; Joao Felix was signed on loan this winter but has thus far found a home in the shadow of the traditional talisman.
Should Chelsea make a move for Osimhen?
And there are convincing reports that the Blues have reached an agreement with prolific RB Leipzig phenom Christopher Nkunku over his £52.7m release clause, although this is yet to receive official confirmation.
However, an acquisition of a “monster” striker – as lauded by the BBC’s Oluwashina Okeleji – proportions such as Osimhen is needed to place Stamford Bridge back on the pedestal it craves after a dreadful year thus far, languishing in tenth place in the league and out of both domestic cup competitions, also trailing Borussia Dortmund after the first leg of the Champions League round-of-16.
Signing for his Serie A outfit from LOSC Lille for a mammoth £71.5m in 2020, the 24-year-old Nigerian powerhouse has scored 47 goals and supplied 13 assists from 85 appearances, including landing 18 goals from just 19 outings in the league this season.
This remarkable tally has been integral for the robustness of the runaway leaders – Napoli have been electric this season, 15 points clear in first after winning 20 of the first 23 matches of the term.
By landing the generational talent, Chelsea boss Graham Potter could well save his tenure at the club, with the west London outfit currently sitting slap bang in the middle of the Premier League and facing their worst overall campaign in years; in order to ensure this is merely a seasonal blip, Potter must act with conviction to land the machine.
As written by the aforementioned Nevin, the “goal machine” – as lauded by Mimi Fawaz – could be Chelsea’s next Drogba, such is the offensive prowess of his abilities.
Drogba was signed for £24m from Olympique Marseille in 2004, and would forge an iconic career in west London, beloved and eminent to this day; from 381 fixtures, the 105-cap Ivory Coast legend scored 164 goals and served 86 assists.
But more integrally, he won the Champions League, four Premier League’s and four FA Cup trophies for the Blues, earning a perpetual god-like status for his recognition as one of football’s most stunning big-game players.
Signing a player such as Osimhen could truly be the ‘Drogba-esque’ signing required to belatedly kickstart the new era at Stamford Bridge, and while a sizeable fee would be needed, recent evidence suggests the Blues hierarchy would be willing to run through hot coals to land the right man.
Osimhen, almost certainly, would assuage the recent woes in west London, and lead the Chelsea line to glory once again.
SOURCE: footballfancast.com
