Chelsea have been named as one of only two clubs who can afford, or who will go for Napoli striker Victor Osimhen this summer.
Gianluca Di Marzio of Sky Italia was interviewed this week and the figures he named to prize the striker away from Napoli this summer are just pure madness.
He claims that €150million is the initial request Napoli have for Osimhen, but €120-130m plus bonuses could be enough. In pounds that equates to an initial £130.2m, or £104.1m – £113m plus bonuses as the lower end fee. Either way, it will be a record-breaking deal.
Di Marzio goes on to say that the only two clubs in the Premier League that can afford him are Chelsea and Manchester United. He rules out other clubs such as Bayern Munich.
Chelsea seem to be prioritising a striker, as well as a number six and a goalkeeper. But do they pay another plus £100m on one single player this month and put themselves in even more risk with FFP rules under threat of being broken?
Also, should a major fee like that be spent on a striker over a midfielder? For me it’s simple, no it should not. And if we are only making one ‘big’ signing in terms of fees, then it absolutely should be a true defensive midfielder.
It is so important that they get this right in the summer. I’m certainly not ruling out Chelsea making another major signing in the region that Enzo Fernandez arrived in, far from it. But realistically I just cannot see us paying plus £100m for a player this summer. I think we can do that and it’s possible, but I just can’t see it happening and see it as very unrealistic.
But for me, if we are spending big, then it quite simply MUST be on Declan Rice. I think we can wait it out, and even if that has to be with Romelu Lukaku and Armando Broja next season, for another elite level striker to be available next summer. Imagine how good an Evan Ferguson from Brighton will be after another season for example? Or wait out on Ivan Toney’s ban.
Don’t get me wrong, I’d be over the moon of we signed Osimhen, but the implications would concern me, and I am also more eager to prioritise a defensive midfielder. And also, I just don’t think Chelsea will be prepared to pay what Napoli want for him.
