Chelsea's pursuit of Napoli striker Victor Osimhen faces a major hurdle as the Nigerian demands a £500,000-a-week salary, making him the Premier League's highest earner. The club, unwilling to meet his financial expectations, is exploring alternative striker options as the transfer window closes.
Chelsea’s pursuit of Napoli striker Victor Osimhen has hit a significant snag, primarily due to the Nigerian international’s extraordinary wage demands. Osimhen is reportedly seeking a staggering £500,000-a-week salary, which would position him as the highest-paid player in the Premier League. However, Chelsea's board, led by Todd Boehly, has shown reluctance to meet such financial expectations.
Throughout the summer, Chelsea has engaged in negotiations with both Napoli and Osimhen's representatives. Despite these discussions, an agreement remains elusive as the club struggles to align with Osimhen’s hefty demands. To navigate this challenge, Chelsea has explored various strategies, including potential loan deals and the possibility of leveraging Romelu Lukaku as part of the transfer. Unfortunately, Napoli has dismissed these proposals, intensifying the complexity of the situation.
Initially, Chelsea proposed a loan move for the 25-year-old striker, expressing hesitation to trigger his £110 million release clause. However, Napoli rejected this offer and proceeded to secure a separate £38 million deal to sign Lukaku. The attempt to incorporate Lukaku in a deal for Osimhen also failed to yield results.
Matt Hughes, a British journalist, underscored the precarious nature of Chelsea’s pursuit, noting on social media that Osimhen’s rigid wage demands have stalled negotiations. As Chelsea actively works to reduce its wage bill—implementing measures like sidelining high earners such as Raheem Sterling—the prospect of accommodating Osimhen’s financial requirements appears dim.
In addition to Chelsea, Osimhen has attracted interest from French giants Paris Saint-Germain, further complicating Chelsea’s ambitions. As the transfer window approaches its conclusion, Chelsea is considering alternative striking options, with Juventus’ Federico Chiesa and Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin emerging as more financially feasible targets.
With the No. 9 shirt still unclaimed at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea remains in search of a top striker to enhance their attacking capabilities. However, the likelihood of landing Osimhen appears slim, given their focus on reducing the wage bill and the existence of other potential targets.
Source: SunSport
