11 May 2023 , 07:51
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Ian Wright thinks Chelsea are in pole position to land Victor Osimhen - although he admits Romelu Lukaku might have something to say about that.
Osimhen, 24, has scored 28 goals in all competitions this season to fire Napoli to their first Serie A title in 33 years. The Italian club's chair Aurelio De Laurentiis is determined to keep hold of the Nigeria international, who is unlikely to be sold for less than £100million.
Although Wright believes Chelsea might have enough financial clout to land Osimhen, he is backing Mauricio Pochettino - who is the favourite to be the next Blues manager - to find a role for Lukaku once his loan spell at Inter Milan concludes this summer.
Pochettino is expected to succeed Frank Lampard as Chelsea manager shortly, despite the Argentine being a former Tottenham boss. Pochettino's biggest job will be finding a striker capable of scoring goals after a baron season at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea are 11th in the table after scoring just 34 goals in as many Premier League games this season - one fewer than Erling Haaland's tally of 35 for Manchester City. Only Southampton, Everton and Wolves have scored fewer goals than the Blues this term.
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It's believed Chelsea have already agreed a deal to sign Christopher Nkunku from RB Leipzig in £63m deal this summer, with the Frenchman scoring 54 club goals since the start of last season. Yet Wright thinks Osimhen is the man to solve Chelsea's problems.
Victor Osimhen is one of Europe's hottest strikers (Marco Canoniero/REX/Shutterstock)Do you agree with Ian Wright? Let us know in the comments below!
The Arsenal legend told the Wright's House podcast: "We’ve got to give him flowers man, we’ve got to. I wonder where he’s going to end up? It wouldn’t surprise me if it was Chelsea. Chelsea are going to try and get him I think."
Yet Wright is also backing Lukaku to finally make an impact at Stamford Bridge. The Belgium international, 29, was re-signed from Inter in a £97.5m deal in August 2021 but scored just eight Premier League goals last season before returning to Italy on loan.
Injuries have restricted Lukaku's progress this season, but three goals and three assists in his last three Serie A appearances suggests the striker has regained his form. As such, Wright thinks Lukaku will have another crack at mastering Stamford Bridge.
"The word on the street is that Mauricio Pochettino wants him back," added Wright. "He’s got unfinished business here, he’s got massive unfinished business here. If I was him, I would love to know I’m going back there and I can shut a few people up.
"He’s got to do that. He owes it to himself to try."
Inter have already confirmed they will not re-sign Lukaku on a permanent deal this summer, leaving the Belgian's options limited due to his wages. In regards to Napoli's stance on Osimhen, De Laurentiis has said: "I will not sell Victor Osimhen this summer - no way!"