Chelsea have now been told to pay a club-record €180m (£155m) fee to sign Victor Osimhen from Napoli this summer.
That is according to Le Parisien.
So, what is the latest on Chelsea and Victor Osimhen? Let’s take a look…
What’s the story?
Well, it was said that Mauricio Pochettino had made the Nigeria international his No.1 striker target this summer – according to 90min.
Osimhen was always going to be expensive after scoring 31 goals in all competitions last season.
However, Napoli have now quoted Chelsea an eye-watering amount, one that would shatter the current club-record fee at Stamford Bridge, the £106.8m spent on Enzo Fernandez.
Le Parisien believe the Italian champions want £155m to sell their No.9 this summer, with Napoli President Aurelio de Laurentiis keen to keep Osimhen in Naples.
The 74-year-old is known for being a tough negotiator, so it doesn’t feel as if he is bluffing with the £155m asking price.
Furthermore, the French news outlet adds that PSG, Manchester United and Bayern Munich are also keen to sign the 24-year-old in addition to Chelsea, so Pochettino has plenty of competition.
Chelsea surely have to look at Osimhen alternatives
In our view, nobody is going to pay Napoli’s £155m asking price for Osimhen.
That would make him the third most expensive footballer in history behind the £200m Neymar and the £166m Kylian Mbappe.
As talented as Osimhen is, that £155m sum is far too high, and Chelsea should search for alternatives.
One alternative who the Blues already seem to have moved on to is Nicolas Jackson of Villarreal.
As detailed by Fabrizio Romano, the Senegal international is keen to join Chelsea, and the Blues are simply discussing if his £30m release clause can be paid in instalments.
Be sure to keep an eye on developments at Chelsea, as it seems at least one new forward will arrive.
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