August 18th 2024.
Chelsea Football Club is currently working on securing more transfers, according to their manager Enzo Maresca. The latest development is that they have received a boost in their pursuit of Victor Osimhen, as the striker has expressed his interest in joining the club this summer. Former Chelsea star John Obi Mikel has also been involved in convincing Osimhen to make the move to Stamford Bridge.
The Blues are determined to strengthen their squad, especially in the striker position after Nicolas Jackson's slightly underwhelming performance in his first season with the club. Osimhen, who has an impressive record of 76 goals in 133 appearances for Napoli and 21 goals in 35 games for Nigeria, is seen as the perfect candidate. However, Chelsea had been facing difficulties in reaching an agreement with the Italian club, but now Napoli seems more open to letting go of Osimhen, especially if they can secure a deal for Chelsea's former player Romelu Lukaku or any other players.
One potential obstacle for Chelsea is Paris Saint-Germain, who are also interested in Osimhen. However, Obi Mikel believes that his fellow Nigerian is more inclined towards joining his former club after their recent conversation. "There's interest from both sides," Obi Mikel stated on beIN SPORT. "He wants to come to the club. The club wants a proven goalscorer, and that's not a dig at Nicolas Jackson. He did well last season, but we need more."
Obi Mikel also revealed that he has been in touch with Osimhen and has told him about the great atmosphere at Chelsea and the opportunities for improvement. "He's interested, which is encouraging. He wants to come to the club," the former Chelsea midfielder added. "Chelsea is a massive club, and he would like to follow in the footsteps of other Nigerians who have played for Chelsea."
The chances of Osimhen joining Chelsea seem to be in favor, with Obi Mikel estimating it to be 60/40. He also suggested a potential straight swap between Napoli and Chelsea, with Napoli keen on signing Lukaku. Osimhen's most prolific season for Napoli was in 2022-23, where he scored 31 goals in 39 games, helping his team win the Serie A title for the first time in 30 years.
Meanwhile, Chelsea is gearing up for their first Premier League game of the 2024-25 season against Manchester City. Maresca will be without club captain Reece James, who is suspended, but he could potentially give debuts to summer signings Pedro Neto and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. City's Rodri is also unavailable due to a hamstring injury sustained during the Euro 2024 final.
In conclusion, Chelsea is actively looking to strengthen their squad, and the pursuit of Osimhen seems to be progressing in a positive direction. Fans can look forward to seeing him in a Chelsea jersey soon, and they can also expect an exciting start to the Premier League season against Manchester City.
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