28 October 2023 , 21:30
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Chelsea have been told they have zero chance of signing Victor Osimhen in the January transfer window. The Nigerian frontman is one of several striker targets on Mauricio Pochettino's radar but Napoli have no intention of sanctioning a winter sale.
When quizzed on the chance of mid-season departures, sporting director Mauro Meluso ruled: “Absolutely not, the squad is very large and leaves us calm." Osimhen, who is currently sidelined with a hamstring problem, is yet to commit to a new contract in Naples with his current deal due to expire in the summer of 2025.
But if formal discussions between the Serie A champions, Osimhen and his agent Roberto Calenda fail to bear fruit in the coming weeks - all signs point towards an end-of-season exit. Chelsea are long-term admirers of Osimhen but at 24, he does not totally align with their current transfer policy which is centred around signing players under the age of 23.
That could soon change, however, now Pochettino has been handed the reins over transfers as Chelsea's young and promising side would surely benefit from an extra injection of experience. Osimhen has previously made no secret of his dreams of playing Premier League football in the future and relations at Napoli appear to have soured after two offensive TikTok posts on the club's social media channels upset the striker in September.
Stubborn Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis would still demand a premium figure, however, having rebuffed a monstrous £120million bid from Al Hilal back in July. That said, Osimhen's value is likely to deteriorate next summer when he is due to enter the final 12 months of his deal in Naples.
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Sources have also downplayed talk of interest from Liverpool, though that could potentially change in the future if Mohamed Salah seals a big-money switch to Saudi Arabia. Despite recent improvements across the board, Chelsea are still lacking a guaranteed goal output in attack and that is a problem likely to be addressed in January.
Ivan Toney is another player in the shop window, however, Arsenal also appear to be at the table for the Brentford talisman, who is due to return to action in mid-January following the expiry of his eight-month ban. Christopher Nkunku is on the comeback trail following a substantial knee injury sustained during pre-season while Armando Broja is struggling to maintain fitness.
Pochettino indicated on Friday that preparations for the January transfer window are already well underway. The Chelsea boss said: "Football is really dynamic. Maybe we are thinking in a different way to two or three weeks ago. We're working with the sporting directors and owners to try to be ready and the moment the transfer window is open, we can see if the team needs to add some players in the position we are talking about, an offensive position."