Three strong reasons Chelsea withdraw from the race to sign Victor Osimhen (Especially number 1)
According to rumors, Chelsea has ruled out competing with Arsenal for the signing of Napoli attacker Victor Osimhen this summer.
The Premier League and Paris Saint-Germain were mentioned as possible destinations by Aurelio de Laurentiis, the president of Napoli, who had anticipated Osimhen’s departure this summer.
Osimhen has previously attracted the attention of Chelsea, and in February, John Obi Mikel asserted that the Nigerian international is eager to transfer to Stamford Bridge.
While Arsenal is also looking for a striker, Mikel Arteta’s team is reportedly the one that has showed the most interest in Osimhen in recent weeks, according to sources from Italy this week.
Furthermore, according to The Athletic, Arsenal might be able to avoid a Premier League bidding war for Osimhen. Chelsea has decided not to pursue the Napoli striker during the summer transfer window.
The report claims that Chelsea are unwilling to meet Osimhen’s €130 million (£110.8m) release clause, while they also have concerns over the striker’s injury record.
There is also a belief that Osimhen would not suit the style of play that Enzo Maresca plans to implement at Chelsea.
Osimhen, who missed six games for Napoli this season due to a hamstring injury, finished the campaign with 15 goals in Serie A.
Speaking in January, Osimhen claimed he already had an idea of his next move ahead of the summer window.
‘Of course, when you’re one of the hottest strikers in the world you expect this type of thing, the EPL it’s one of the biggest and best leagues in the world,’ he told CBS Sports.
‘For me, I’m with Napoli, signed a new contract and enjoying my time there with the team, at the end of the season I’ve already made up my mind, I already know what I want to do in my career.
‘Since I’ve started, I’ve been the one making my own decisions on everything and it’s working out well for me, even though when I started it didn’t go so well.
‘I already have my plan, I already know the next step I want to take, so for now I just want to finish the season strong.’