3 months ago
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Chelsea are looking to ramp up interest in Napoli striker Victor Osimhen after the Nigeria international handed in a transfer request over the weekend.
The Nigerian international has long been linked with a move away from the club, having joined them from Lille in the summer of 2020.
Chelsea have held a long-standing interest in Osimhen and have previously held talks with the Italian side over a potential swap deal involving Romelu Lukaku.
New Napoli manager Antonio Conte is keen to reunite with Lukaku after the pair won Serie A together at Inter Milan in 2021, with the Belgian striker having struggled since returning to Stamford Bridge later that year.
Paris Saint-Germain were previously thought to have been leading the race for Osimhen but their talks are believed to have stalled over a fee.
It remains to be seen whether or not Chelsea do eventually make a move, with the Blues having previously been unwilling to pay his release clause, believed to be worth over £100m.
Still, Osimhen is determined to leave Naples this summer and sporting director Giovanni Manna confirmed over the weekend: “Victor Osimhen has asked to leave the club. He wants to go.
“The situation is clear, there were already chances for his exit last summer. Victor wants to leave. We will see in the next 20 days.”
Meanwhile, Chelsea manager, Enzo Maresca, is looking to trim down his bloated squad as the new season approaches.
Maresca is preparing for his first season at Stamford Bridge, after replacing Mauricio Pochettino this summer.
Having inherited a large squad, Maresca now wants to cut it down to a manageable size.
It is believed Chelsea are hoping to have a first-team squad of around 23 or 24 outfield players.
The Blues have welcomed six new faces to Stamford Bridge under Enzo Maresca’s leadership, as the club continues its rapid evolution under BlueCo’s ownership. The new signings are getting acquainted during a pre-season tour of the United States, with a significant number of players left behind in London.
There are several players that Chelsea hopes to offload, some of whom were also on the selling block last summer. Malang Sarr has already had his contract terminated to facilitate his move to RC Lens.
Sarr, who arrived on a free transfer, was part of Thomas Tuchel’s Club World Cup-winning squad. Unable to secure a move last year, the Frenchman trained separately from the first team throughout the season. Both parties were keen to avoid a repeat of the 2023/24 situation, and Sarr agreed to forgo any compensation.
Sarr wasn’t the only player Chelsea struggled to sell last summer. Romelu Lukaku remained separate from the squad as he sought a move, but only managed to secure a loan to Roma.
The Belgian striker is once again hoping for a transfer, with Napoli potential suitors. This could lead to a reunion with former Chelsea and Inter Milan manager Antonio Conte.
Kepa Arrizabalaga, who was loaned to Real Madrid on the eve of last season, is likely to leave Chelsea in the coming weeks as his contract in west London winds down.
Chelsea have also made their intentions clear regarding Trevoh Chalobah. The defender, who was notably absent from Maresca’s squad that travelled to the US, is expected to be sold for a tidy profit.
Conor Gallagher, whose current deal expires in less than a year, was up for sale last summer and remains available. Despite being admired by Mauricio Pochettino, the England international is yet to join Chelsea’s squad following his Euro 2024 exploits but has attracted interest from Atletico Madrid.
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