Victor Osimhen ‘considering’ January transfer move to Chelsea

Victor Osimhen is still interested in playing for Chelsea and is considering a transfer to Stamford Bridge in January.

Chelsea has been said to be interested in Osimhen for several years, and they allegedly dispatched a delegation to Naples on deadline day to finalize a deal for the striker before the new season began.

However, a projected transfer from Napoli to west London fell through, and Osimhen went on to sign a season-long deal with Galatasaray. Al-Ahli of the Saudi Pro League and PSG of Ligue 1 had also expressed interest in the deal.

Osimhen has now flown out of the traps in Turkey, scoring two goals and providing two assists in his first three games for Galatasaray, but there is growing suspicion that the 25-year-old may be on the move again.

According to Italian daily Corriere dello Sport, Galatasaray wants to recruit Osimhen on a permanent basis from Napoli, but the Super Lig winners will face heavy competition from Chelsea.

Osimhen’s €130 million (£109 million) release clause expired when he joined Galatasaray on loan, and the forward will be available for only €81 million (£68 million) this winter. This number will fall again to €75 million (£63 million) next summer.

The lower £68 million buyout clause will not be applicable for Serie A teams in January, and Chelsea may profit on the scenario when the January transfer window opens for business.

According to the source, Osimhen is’still highly keen’ in joining the Blues, and he is ‘evaluating the possibilities of making the switch’ in three months’ time.

If Osimhen signs a £68 million deal with Chelsea in the forthcoming transfer window, Napoli will earn £63 million, with Galatasaray receiving the remaining £5 million.

The Nigerian international still has two years left on his current deal with Naples.

Following Nicolas Jackson’s uneven debut season at Stamford Bridge, in which the Senegalese scored 17 goals in 44 appearances, Osimhen was considered as a potential long-term front-line answer for Chelsea.

Jackson, on the other hand, has hushed his skeptics with a good start to the new season, scoring four goals and providing three assists in the Premier League as Enzo Maresca’s side sits fourth in the league.

The likes of Samu Omorodion, Jhon Duran, Benjamin Sesko, and Viktor Gyokeres were all connected with Chelsea during the summer transfer window.