Osimhen Tops Chelsea’s Jan Three-Man Shortlist
Napoli striker Victor Osimhen has been made a priority target by Chelsea ahead of the January transfer window.
Osimhen fired Napoli to the Serie A title and scored 31 goals in all competitions last season and has continued his good form this campaign.
According to the Evening Standard, Osimhen is the most wanted by the Blues after Mauricio Pochettino’s side have prepared a three-man shortlist of options to bolster their forward line after a lukewarm start to the season.
They also have eyes on banned Brentford forward Ivan Toney – who could cost about £100m – and Club Brugge’s 18-year-old Antonio Nusa.
While Toney would bring proven top-flight net-busting experience, Nusa is more of an unknown quantity with just seven career goals but is one of Europe’s most widely admired wonderkids and has already played for Norway four time, scoring once.
All three would bring different qualities and prospects but Osimhen is the standout name after being one of Europe’s best players last season.
The Nigerian forward is currently recovering from a hamstring injury he picked up during the international break in October and has six goals in the Serie A this season.
The 24-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to the Premier League before the start of this season and he recently spoke about his admiration of the EPL while growing up.
Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has proven to be a shrewd businessman in handling the Nigerian’s transfer speculations, placing a £150m on his prized asset in the summer.
With his current contract at Napoli expiring in 2025, there has been talks to extend his stay at the Diego Maradona Stadium until 2026.
Napoli will hope to cling onto him until at least the summer and the Evening Standard claims that Chelsea will only finalise their January transfer plans in mid-December.
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