Chelsea were unable to sign Victor Osimhen before the transfer deadline due to a combination of high asking price and the player's preference for a move to Napoli.

Unfortunately, Victor Osimhen's potential transfer to the Premier League did not come to fruition this summer. Despite Chelsea's repeated attempts to secure the Nigerian striker, the European transfer window closed with Osimhen still a player for Napoli.

Chelsea had been eyeing Osimhen for a while now, and this summer was no different. The 76 goals he had scored in 133 appearances for Napoli, including helping them win the Serie A title, and his 21 goals in 35 games for Nigeria made him a highly sought-after player. The Blues were hoping to bring him to Stamford Bridge, especially after Nicolas Jackson's mixed first season with the team.

Although Jackson scored in Chelsea's 6-2 win over Wolves last weekend, there were doubts about his performance and finishing abilities throughout the previous season. Osimhen, on the other hand, had no such issues in front of goal. It was no surprise that Chelsea was still trying to strike a deal with Napoli on deadline day, with a team from Stamford Bridge stationed in Naples, hoping to make a breakthrough.

However, Osimhen's wage demands proved to be a major obstacle in the negotiations. Despite offering him a contract worth €155,000-a-week, which was less than what he received at Napoli, the striker was not willing to take a pay-cut. This was despite his dream of playing in the Premier League. As a result, Chelsea's delegation left Naples disappointed, and according to Fabrizio Romano, the relationship between the two parties was "completely broken."

As their efforts to sign Osimhen fell through, Chelsea turned their attention to Manchester United's Jadon Sancho. They reached an agreement with the Red Devils towards the end of the transfer window, sensing an opportunity to sign the young winger. Meanwhile, Arsenal, who were also interested in Osimhen, decided against making an official move, prioritizing their first-choice striker, Kai Havertz.

With the non-European transfer window still open for a few more days, there is a possibility that Osimhen could end up at Saudi club Al-Ahli. They had agreed to a deal with Napoli last week, but the striker was reluctant to move there. However, with his move to the Premier League no longer an option, his stance may change.

Reports from L'Equipe suggest that Osimhen has informed Napoli that he no longer wants to play for the Italian club and has effectively gone on strike. This comes as no surprise, as the Premier League was his preferred destination. Speaking on deadline day, former England star Jamie Redknapp expressed his disappointment at Osimhen not making the move to the English top-flight. He believed that the striker's qualities would have been a perfect fit for the Premier League and would have loved to see him play there.

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