Why Chelsea must go all out for Victor Osimhen
Chelsea’s current squad under Mauricio Pochettino has lacked one critical element – a striker. The experiments with Nicolas Jackson and previously Armando Broja have yielded little fruit, based on the volume of chances created by the likes of Cole Palmer and the rest of the attacking line.
On the flip side, Victor Osimhen’s future is not settled in Naples at the moment. The Super Eagles forward has had to endure some tough moments towards the end of 2023, after suffering the ignominy of being mocked by his own club’s media team. In addition, he has battled a string of injuries, which have disrupted his season and affected his output.
Taking the above into account, Chelsea are in dire need of a world-class striker. In the same vein, Osimhen can be regarded as one, who also happens to need a place he can truly call his own, as he approaches the peak of his career.
Chelsea have been linked with a move for the Napoli striker for some time, but here’s why the Blues should go all out for the African Footballer of the Year this summer.
Victor Osimhen’s Growing Antecedents
Osimhen burst onto the scene in France with Lille after his struggles in Germany and eventual breakthrough in Belgium with R Charleroi SC. The Olusosun-born forward was signed for €22.40m and many thought the French side overpaid for him.
The 25-year-old did not waste time to grab the opportunity presented to him by one of the strongest teams in Ligue 1 at the time. He scored 18 goals and assisted six more in just 38 appearances.
His exploits in that single campaign led to Napoli’s interest and the move was eventually sealed for €75m – a record fee for an African player.
In Naples, the injuries started coming, and his output was greatly affected. The forward missed the 2021 AFCON tournament in Cameroon but still came back to the team and notched double figures in goal involvements for Napoli.
Last season, in 32 league appearances for Napoli, he scored 26 goals and provided five assists, as the Naples club clinched their first Scudetto in over three decades, reminiscent of the days of Diego Maradona.
In the current campaign he has notched 13 goals across all competitions and provided four assists at the time of writing.
The Scudetto win was a historic achievement that saw the Nigerian star win the Striker of the Season award and CAF Player of the Year award, before leading the Super Eagles of Nigeria to the final of the 2023 AFCON in Côte d’Ivoire.
How Would Osimhen Fit in at Chelsea?
Suggesting that Chelsea’s issues stem solely from the lack of a clinical striker may be too simplistic. However, signing the Nigerian hitman wouldn’t hurt the Blues’ attacking prowess.
Jackson, who is currently leading the line for them, has played on the wings more in his career before his move to England, while Christopher Nkunku has struggled for match fitness, and Armando Broja has been sent out on loan to Fulham.
The Blues have relied on Cole Palmer and, to a lesser extent, Raheem Sterling, to score goals in games for them. The former, who arrived in the summer from Manchester City, has been a revelation this season and Chelsea would have been nowhere without his contributions.
With that in mind, getting a center-forward with a penchant for goalscoring is of the utmost importance to the Blues in the summer. The ability of Osimhen to hold up the ball, link up play, and finish crosses puts him above Chelsea’s current attacking options of Christopher Nkunku, Nicolas Jackson, and sometimes Raheem Sterling.
However, Osimhen’s prowess extends beyond aerial prowess; he possesses adept ball control, can create chances for teammates, and usually finishes opportunities with aplomb.
Compared with Chelsea’s attackers, Osimhen has missed just five big chances in Serie A, while Jackson has missed (15), and Raheem Sterling (11). In addition, Osimhen, who has played fewer games than these two forwards, has scored more goals than the pair (we are excluding Nkunku here, as he has not played much).
Fellow African – and Osimhen’s childhood idol – Didier Drogba excelled at Stamford Bridge. The Ivorian and the Nigerian star shared moments at the last AFCON in Ivory Coast and the Nigerian has spoken about his love for the Champions League winner before.
“Didier Drogba is my idol. I loved watching him play as a kid. I always wanted to be like him”, Osimhen told Sport1 in 2023.
If Osimhen truly wants to be like Drogba, he could get a chance to do that if he eventually moves to the blue side of London. In addition, Osimhen’s unyielding self-belief will be crucial if he is to overcome Chelsea’s striker curse, as many have struggled while leading the line at Stamford Bridge.
Victor Osimhen’s Arrival at Chelsea Will Come at a Cost
At the moment, Osimhen stands out as one of the most coveted forwards in football. Over the past months, the 25-year-old has attracted interest from numerous top-tier European clubs, notably PSG and Arsenal.
Osimhen has recently signed a new deal with Napoli that would keep the striker in Italy until 2026, but this new contract does include a £112m release clause, which could tempt Chelsea into making a move for the 25-year-old.
Osimhen has been linked with Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, and some Saudi clubs, with the player himself hinting at a desire to seek a new challenge at the end of the season.
Chelsea spent an astonishing £323million in total in January 2023 in what was a real statement month from Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital. Eight new players arrived through the door at Stamford Bridge during that transfer window. They also made a few signings in the summer but the problem still persists in the team.
As a result, Mauricio Pochettino is keen on bringing in an attacking reinforcement. The Blues want to compete on all fronts, and they need a striker to challenge the very best in the league.
Chelsea have had a tough run this season, with the Blues sitting 11th in the Premier League, and the chances of them making Europe are quite slim at the moment. They also lost to Liverpool in the final of the Carabao Cup just a few weeks ago.
Although PSG are set to lose Kylian Mbappe in the summer, the Blues are seen as the most desperate for Osimhen’s signature as they aim to address their striking problems ahead of the next season.
As things stand, Chelsea must be willing to pay more than the €121 million that they shelled out to acquire the services of Enzo Fernandez in January 2023 if they want Osimhen, while also complying with the Financial Fair Play regulations.