Chelsea will now target Osimhen and pay whatever it takes to beat Man Utd

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Victor Osimhen is on Man Utd
Victor Osimhen is on Man Utd's shortlist for a permanent striker signing (Image: Getty Images)

Chelsea have joined the hunt for Napoli striker Victor Osimhen.

The Blues already have France striker Christopher Nkunku lined up for the summer from RB Leipzig. But 24-year-old Osimhen is one of the most in-demand players in Europe after bagging 15 goals in 20 games.

And Chelsea are ready to rival Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain for the powerful hitman’s signature as they look to continue their big spend under their new co-owners.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was brought in to provide the goals Chelsea have been lacking but he has struggled to replicate the form he showed at Barcelona and has been omitted from Graham Potter’s Champions League squad for the second half of the season.

Napoli want around £100m for Osimhen but Todd Boehly and Co have proved they will pay whatever it takes to bring in the best young talent they can get their hands on.

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The Nigeria international began his career with Wolfsburg in Germany before joining Charleroi, Lille and then Napoli.

Meanwhile, Philippe Coutinho is a target for Turkish giants Galatasaray. The out-of-favour Aston Villa star is wanted on loan before the window in Turkey closes on February 8. Brazilian Coutinho was linked with a move back to South America last month but no deal materialised.

Chelsea will now target Osimhen and pay whatever it takes to beat Man UtdChelsea have joined the battle for Victor Osimhen (Cesare Purini/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images)

And that has opened the door for Galatasaray to make their move as they bolster their squad in a bid to cement their spot at the top of the Super Lig table. Coutinho has dropped down the pecking order since Villa replaced Steven Gerrard with Unai Emery in November.

He is yet to start a Premier League game under the Spaniard, with the only start he has been given coming in the shock FA Cup defeat by Stevenage. Galatasaray know they can offer him much more game time and Villa are unlikely to block his exit.

The former Liverpool star is under contract at Villa until 2026 but has struggled for form after turning his initial loan deal from Barcelona into a permanent move last summer.

He is one of the highest earners at the West Midlands club and getting a peripheral player off the wage bill, which is why Villa would prefer a permanent deal. However, if he can reignite his form in Turkey then there would be more suitors for him in the summer.

Tom Hopkinson

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