Napoli striker Victor Osimhen is “top” of Chelsea’s list of striker targets, according to Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg.
The journalist claims the Blues are hoping to do a deal for €110m (£95.6m) plus bonuses.
However, Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis is demanding closer to €150m (£130m):
News #Osimhen: Chelsea is still pushing! They want him as their new striker! He’s top of the list. Understand there are price expectations about €110m + Boni at this stage.
But #CFC has to sell players first and De Laurentiis wants more and at least €150m. Problematic for… pic.twitter.com/YANWaRL33s
— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) May 23, 2023
Chelsea’s interest has got many fans talking on Twitter, but few are expecting the London club to meet the forward’s current asking price:
Give them Lukaku and 70m
— SOFRESH (@sofreshtunez) May 23, 2023
He’d flop, bring in a PL striker
— Kyal. #PochIn (@CFC_Mason2001) May 23, 2023
150m lol 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
— Ed🏴🇬🇧🇨🇦 (@mungiedrine) May 23, 2023
95m plus Pulisic
— ChelseaNexus2023 (@IT_StephenCar) May 23, 2023
Not worth it for me
— Darlington ⚽📇 (@Just_Darlington) May 23, 2023
Just sign him, don’t mess this up
— beefy (@Colin39429524) May 23, 2023
Yeh this ain’t happening adl ain’t budging on that price tag and we can’t really afford to sanction a singular transfer that big again
— Dylan (@brown_dylan) May 23, 2023
Sell some deadwood
— chelseanews (@Chelsea_storie) May 23, 2023
As Plettenberg mentions in his tweet, the only way Chelsea are going to afford Osimhen is if they sell some players first.
Raising the money should be possible, considering the sizeable number who are likely to be made available for transfer. However, any deal may have to wait until later in the summer.
That could allow rivals, such as Manchester United, Bayern Munich or Paris Saint-Germain, to swoop in, but much will depend on who can persuade De Laurentiis and Napoli into selling up.