‘A gamble’… Paul Merson thinks Chelsea would be taking a big risk signing 24-year-old in January

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Paul Merson has urged caution for Chelsea amid transfer rumours that they want to sign Napoli’s Victor Osimhen.

We’ve seen the Blues regularly fail when they welcome high-profile strikers to Stamford Bridge, but is Victor Osimhen another frontman that would struggle making the jump to Premier League football?

Football Transfers reported last week that Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly is prepared to pay whatever it takes to sign Osimhen. The 24-year-old centre-forward is a target that the club are desperate to bring in, with head coach Mauricio Pochettino keen to add another No 9 to his squad during next month’s January transfer window.

A transfer gamble for Chelsea

Sky Sports pundit Merson is a bit worried about Chelsea going out and spending big on another big-name striker.

When discussing the Blues on Sky Sports, Merson said: “Chelsea have to get a centre forward in January. How many teams do anything without a centre forward?

“There is Victor Osimhen at Napoli. However, I feel that is a gamble because he would be coming into the hardest league in the world. How many times have we seen someone rip it up in another country only to struggle in the Premier League? We’ve seen it too many times.”

Victor Osimhen a risk

There’s going to be an element of risk with any new signing that hasn’t played in English football before. On paper, we’re confident that Osimhen would be more likely to become the next Didier Drogba than the next Radamel Falcao at Stamford Bridge.

Osimhen’s had a stop-start season so far due to injury, but he’s still managed six goals in 11 Serie A appearances. His tally of 31 goals across all competitions last season for Napoli is what will really excite Chelsea supporters, though.

The Nigeria international has done so well in Italian football since his move to Naples, with his pace and power such key tools to his game. You’d think it would really help him if he ended up playing in the Premier League for the first time in his career.

Chelsea strikers Nicolas Jackson and Armando Broja, both aged 22, are decent options in the current squad. But we’d feel a lot more comfortable with the duo battling it out with a more proven finisher such as Osimhen for a starting position.