Chelsea are confident that Victor Osimhen wants to join the club, though a move for the Napoli forward will have to wait until the summer window.
Chelsea want to sign an elite centre-forward and are long-term admirers of Osimhen, who scored 26 league goals last season to win the Capocannoniere award as Serie A’s top scorer.
The Nigeria international’s form propelled Napoli to a first league crown in 33 years, with Europe’s top teams interested in prising the 24-year-old from the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
Osimhen has spoken openly about his ‘dream’ of playing in the Premier League and has revealed how he idolised former Chelsea forward Didier Drogba. The Evening Standard are reporting that the Blues have been encouraged in their pursuit of Osimhen, but any deal would need to wait until the end of the season.
Chelsea are keen to bring in reinforcements in the final third, but are prepared to wait for Osimhen. Christopher Nkunku is set to return from injury after the international break and the Frenchman could make his debut for the club at Newcastle on November 25.
Nicolas Jackson has also scored four goals in his last two Premier League fixtures, while Armando Broja and Cole Palmer are alternative options in a central role.
Napoli will demand a fee in excess of £100m for Osimhen, who has scored 56 goals in 91 league appearances for the Italian side since arriving from Lille.
The Serie A champions have endured a difficult title defence to date and are 10 points behind leaders Inter Milan, with a decision made to sack Rudi Garcia this week and bring in Walter Mazzarri. Garcia replaced title-winning coach Luciano Spalletti last summer but endured a challenging campaign.
