Chelsea reportedly believes they can win the race for in-demand Napoli striker Victor Osimhen even without the allure of Champions League football next season.
The Blues have made the Nigerian marksman their top striker target for 2023 after months of scouting, and club officials are preparing what will likely be a club-record bid to take the 24-year-old to Stamford Bridge.
Osimhen is one of Europe’s most talked about strikers this season, with his 21 goals in 23 games for Serie A leaders Napoli propelling them to their first Scudetto title in over 30 years. The 24-year-old is also on the radars of Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, and Manchester United, who are all understood to have made contact with the striker’s representatives.
But according to a report by 90min, Chelsea believes they can outbid their rivals and convince Osimhen to move to London even without the promise of Champions League football next season. The Blues are currently sitting outside the top half of the Premier League and are almost certain to be knocked out of the UCL after a 2-0 loss to Real Madrid in the first leg of their quarter-final tie.
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They believe that moving to London will interest Osimhen as it will allow him to follow in the footsteps of his childhood idol, Ivorian striker Didier Drogba, fondly remembered as one of Chelsea’s all-time greatest players.
The only hindrance to a possible deal for Osimhen will be money, as Chelsea are on the brink of breaking Financial Fair Play (FFP) rule unless they can move on some players. However, the Stamford Bridge side are ready to do just that, with the likes of Conor Gallagher, Kai Havertz, Christian Pulisic and Hakim Ziyech all set to be sold to fund the move this summer.
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