In the race to secure the signature of highly sought-after forward Victor Osimhen, former England striker Ian Wright has tipped Chelsea as the frontrunners, Soccernet.ng reports.
Osimhen, who enjoyed a remarkable season with Serie A champions Napoli, has garnered interest from numerous top European clubs after an impressive display on the field.
The 24-year-old Nigerian international proved his worth with a remarkable tally of 28 goals in 35 appearances across all competitions, playing a pivotal role in Napoli’s league triumph, their first in 33 years, as well as their journey to the knockout stages of the esteemed Champions League.
While several clubs have expressed their desire to acquire Osimhen’s services, valued at over £100m by Napoli, Wright believes it would not come as a surprise if Chelsea were to secure his signature and bring him to Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea’s owner, Todd Boehly, is expected to bolster the attacking department under incoming manager Mauricio Pochettino, particularly due to concerns surrounding the underwhelming performance of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and uncertainties surrounding the return of Romelu Lukaku.
Reflecting on Osimhen’s sensational season at Napoli, Wright shared his admiration on his Ringer FC podcast (as per The Metro) stating, “We’ve got to give him flowers, man, we’ve got to. I wonder where he’s going to end up? It wouldn’t surprise me if it was Chelsea. Chelsea are going to try and get him, I think.”
Chelsea, traditionally one of the most successful teams in English football, finds themselves in an uncharacteristically low 11th position in the Premier League after a disappointing season.
The club’s recent struggles have resulted in two managerial changes, with Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter already being relieved of their duties. Currently, caretaker boss Frank Lampard has endured a challenging start, suffering six defeats in his seven games in charge.
Despite the team’s underperformance, Chelsea’s ownership, led by Boehly, has made substantial investments in the transfer market, exceeding £600m on new signings within the past year.
Chelsea will look to reverse their fortunes when they return to action on Saturday, facing off against relegation-battlers Nottingham Forest.
As the transfer market buzzes with speculation, football enthusiasts eagerly await the outcome of the race for Victor Osimhen’s signature, while keeping a close eye on Chelsea’s pursuit as they seek to rebuild and regain their former glory.
