Chelsea have long been linked with Napoli striker Victor Osimhen.

The Nigerian has been with the Italian side since 2020 and has gone from strength to strength since making the move from Lille, scoring 76 goals in 133 appearances. Now, with his current contract expiring in two years, it’s thought the time has come for the 25-year-old to leave Napoli and test himself in bigger waters.

football.london understands Chelsea’s priority this summer is signing a central striker to ease the burden on Nicolas Jackson, who still needs time to develop. Osimhen is widely appreciated by Blues transfer chiefs although his £110million release clause has proven to be a stumbling block.

Paris Saint-Germain are also interested in the striker and it’s been said that talks are advancing between the club and Osimhen’s camp with the player keen to join the French giants if a deal can be agreed. There is still time for Chelsea to hijack any potential move though and Osimhen could well choose the Blues over PSG if Todd Boehly sanctions a deal.

“The Premier League is one of the biggest leagues in the world,” Osimhen said earlier this year when asked about his future. “I want to finish the season with Napoli strong then come up with the decision I’ve already made.”

Tom Coley

Osimhen is a big risk for Chelsea simply due to the money. His quality is undoubted.

Signing world-class players at this age is not the sort of thing that teh new Chelsea does, so there are immediate doubts over whether or not they will actually pursue this deal too seriously. If they weren’t willing to pay for Michael Olise then what is there to suggest £100million (or thereabouts) on Osimhen is likely?

As a hypothetical though, what a signing it would be. Osimhen is pretty much a cheat code striker. With the forward options Chelsea already have in Cole Palmer and Christopher Nkunku, adding someone of this level would almost guarantee goals.

He seems to suit Maresca too. Able to come short but also spin in behind, Osimhen makes moments from nothing, creates goals by himself, and is absolutely electric. He’d be almost certain to become a hit at Stamford Bridge, but Chelsea have previous with expensive strikers, and they don’t often go well.

Sam Truelove

Chelsea need to sign a striker this summer. That is clear. The problem is who should they bring in? Victor Osimhen has proven himself to be a clinical marksman in recent years but his £110million release clause is very expensive.

They haven’t had the best of records when it comes to expensive strikers, either. Romelu Lukaku, Alvaro Morato, Fernando Torres and Andriy Shevchenko are evidence of this. Will Osimhen break the trend? I’m not so sure.

I actually prefer Brentford’s Ivan Toney to Osimhen. The Englishman only has one year on his contract remaining and could be available for between £40million and £50million this summer. While he didn’t have a great 2023/24 season, the 28-year-old has proven himself under Thomas Frank, has Premier League experience and would fit in nicely under Maresca.

Amie Wilson

There’s no doubt that Victor Osimhen is one of the best strikers in European football, but I think Chelsea may find better value elsewhere, unless they can sort a deal that includes a Romelu Lukaku swap.

If they are able to come to an agreement on Lukaku being included and this helps to reduce Napoli’s asking price, then it would solve two problems in the transfer window – the signing of a striker and the future of Lukaku. But swap deals are rarely easy.

Signing another striker to provide competition to Nicolas Jackson could allow new signing Marc Guiu to possibly go on loan. A proven goalscorer in the Premier League, such as Ivan Toney, who may be available at a reduced price due to his contract situation at Brentford, would be a clever signing.

Oliver Jones

Whilst Chelsea undoubtedly need some more attacking threat, I don’t think Victor Osimhen is the answer. The Blues have had a worrying trend when it comes to forwards over the past decade, with many stars that have shone across the European continent reduced to laughing stocks as soon as they step foot into Stamford Bridge.

And while Nicolas Jackson has at times stuck out like a sore thumb for his mishaps and habit of making seemingly ridiculous decisions over the past 12 months, is it right to force him out of the starting XI already given the promise he did show at times last season?

For all his qualities, the thing that worries me the most about Osimhen is his offside record. If you thought Jackson or even Timo Werner had a penchant for being behind the last man in a Chelsea shirt, you have no idea what’s coming if Osimhen decides to sign. A staggering 104 offsides over 69 matches in the past two seasons for Napoli is an incredible rate and with semi-automated offsides being introduced next season, it could be a major headache for Enzo Maresca if he’s having to pay a £110million price tag on top.

Lee Wilmot

There are two problems when it comes to Victor Osimhen signing for Chelsea. The first is his price tag. More than £100million is extortionate and, while Chelsea are known to splash the cash, this would be insane.

Then there’s the fact that Paris Saint-Germain are interested. Osimhen would see himself as the heir to the Kylian Mbappe throne in the French capital and what a draw that would be for the Nigerian frontman.

Osimhen is undoubtedly a class act, but he has no Premier League experience and it could take time for him to adapt to English football. Chelsea do not have time, given their performances in the league in the last few seasons. Todd Boehly wants results now.

That is why a move for someone with Premier League experience would be more valuable, someone like Ivan Toney perhaps, who will be considerably cheaper given he only has one year remaining on his Brentford contract.