Football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has stated that Victor Osimhen will not take a pay cut to join Chelsea. He hinted that Chelsea’s pursuit of the Napoli striker could go down to the final week of the transfer window. The Blues need a goal-scoring striker and have intensified their search as the Premier League season approaches.
Chelsea are closing in on a deal for Atletico Madrid attacker Samu Omorodion but are also heavily linked with Osimhen. The Nigerian forward is highly sought after, with interest from several top clubs. However, his €130m release clause has deterred many suitors, except for PSG.
There has been talk of a potential swap deal involving Romelu Lukaku, as Chelsea are unlikely to activate Osimhen’s £113m release clause. Despite signing a new contract with Napoli last year, Osimhen is expected to leave before the transfer window closes. He is Serie A’s highest earner and scored 26 league goals last season, helping Napoli win their first Scudetto in over three decades.
Osimhen joined Napoli from Lille in 2020 for a club record fee of €70m plus €10m in bonuses.