Chelsea are likely to try for a smart transfer window this January, according to Fabrizio Romano as he spoke exclusively to CaughtOffside via the Debrief Podcast.

By ‘smart’, Romano means there will be a bit more order to what Chelsea are doing after what has been a busy and chaotic period for the Blues due to so much change in personnel, both on and off the pitch, in the last year or more.

More specifically, Romano said that we can probably expect Chelsea to try for a new striker, with Napoli’s Victor Osimhen and Brentford’s Ivan Toney again named as the players on their radar, even if they won’t necessarily be easy deals to get done.

Romano still says he can’t see Osimhen leaving Napoli in January, meaning Toney could be more realistic, though negotiations have not yet started.

“I expect Chelsea to be smart – at the moment there is no news, after years of many stories about owners, directors, managers, players. This is the best way,” Romano said to Angus Scott and Ben Jacobs on today’s show.

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“A striker remains a priority, we’ve mentioned Victor Osimhen, Ivan Toney. Nothing has changed for Osimhen and I don’t see him moving in January … in the summer it could be different.

“With Toney the situation could be different – he wants to play for a top, top club and Chelsea are still interested. Let’s see if they will attack the situation but they haven’t opened negotiations yet.”

On Chelsea’s plans for a new defender, Romano added: “I expect Trevoh Chalobah to leave Chelsea in January and for them to explore options for a new centre-back – that’s one of the players they want to prioritise in 2024.”

Chelsea fans will no doubt hope the club have something smart up their sleeve, though a quiet window also wouldn’t go amiss for precisely the reasons Romano outlined above!

The post Exclusive: Fabrizio Romano expects “smart” transfer window for Chelsea this January appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Chelsea have been linked with a move for the Napoli striker Victor Osimhen in recent months.

The 24-year-old Nigerian international has established himself as one of the best strikers in the world and Chelsea are in need of desperate reinforcements in the attack. A signing like him could transform Chelsea during the second half of the campaign, but it seems that the Blues have now decided to end their pursuit of the player for the January transfer window.

A report from Fichajes claims that Napoli have set an asking price of €150 million for the striker and Chelsea will not be able to afford him. It will be interesting to see if the Blues decide to return for him at the end of the season.

Osimhen scored 31 goals across all competitions last season and he helped Napoli win the league title. He could have transformed Chelsea into genuine title contenders as well.

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The Blues have a talented squad at their disposal but they have struggled to score goals recently. A clinical finisher like Osimhen would have made a huge difference in the final third.

That said, Chelsea will still have the opportunity to sign him in the summer and it remains to be seen how the situation develops. If they manage to secure Champions League qualification, they should have the funds to pull off a big-money signing and Osimhen will probably be a priority target for them.

The post Chelsea make decision on their January pursuit of 24-year-old attacker appeared first on CaughtOffside.

This article was originally published on Fabrizio Romano’s Daily Briefing, a subscription service. If you would like to receive Fabrizio Romano’s exclusive articles via email ahead of publication on caughtoffside.com, please sign-up for the service here: thedailybriefing.io

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Sir Jim sends a strong message to Man United’s board

It was an historical day at Manchester United because, after 16 years, Richard Arnold left his role as CEO of the club. This huge news can be seen as the first message from Sir Jim Ratcliffe – set to buy a 25% minority stake in the club – to the wider board at the club.

It’s really important to mention that Sir Jim Ratcliffe will have sporting control so will be able to bring people into United, and this is why Patrick Stewart is going to be the interim CEO.

A couple of days ago I told you Jean-Claude Blanc is the favourite to become the new CEO at Manchester United and I can confirm that the discussions are very positive.

Blanc obviously knows the INEOS group very well and is perfectly aligned with their ideas.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe is also still waiting for a final decision on the sporting director role with Paul Mitchell the favourite and discussions still ongoing.

Clearly Manchester United will be a work in progress over the next few months.

No contract talks for de Jong until 2024

Also guys, I wanted to clarify something on Frenkie de Jong’s contract because it’s important to say that Barcelona will not be extending any other contracts this year.

Not for the Dutchman, for Ronald Araujo or anyone else. It’s because of Financial Fair Play and so they’re not changing any salaries or any contracts in November and December.

This is the idea so, in 2024, Deco will be in contact with the agents of the players concerned. In fact, he’s already mentioned that he’s speaking to de Jong’s agents and Barça want to keep hold of him for sure.

He’s a crucial player as Laporta said many times, so the discussion will take place but it has to be 2024, not now.

He’s very happy in Barcelona, both with his private life and at the club, and at the moment, the situation is completely quiet around him.

Does Napoli sacking their manager change the position on Victor Osimhen?

Many of you have been asking me about Victor Osimhen in recent days because he mentioned Chelsea and Man United on a recent podcast, saying some friends supported the two teams.

But also guys, Napoli have changed the manager after a horrible beginning of the season for the new coach, Rudi Garcia, and despite them winning the title last season.

Napoli have appointed Walter Mazzarri, the former Watford and Inter manager who was also at Napoli as manager for four years between 2009 and 2013. Now, 10 years later, he’s back with the Partnopei.

The club haven’t changed their position on Osimhen despite only having a manager for the short term, and the club are still not in a position to sell him.

Their priority is to keep the player in January and to push again with the contract extension. Maybe the time to sell him could be in the summer…

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In other news…

Casemiro – Currently I’m told it’s still quiet with regards to Saudi Pro League clubs and Casemiro. No concrete proposals or negotiations are taking place. We’ll have to see what happens in the summer, but it depends on a lot of factors including Saudi plans, Man United decisions and more. I think he’s still a very important player, but has just been unlucky with his injuries.

Juventus targets – They always appreciated Domenico Berardi from Sassuolo. He was already a target in August but the negotiation was difficult. Now Jadon Sancho is in the list but Berardi remains a player they really like and appreciate.

I don’t know the exact name of the midfielder that they’re after yet, it’s too early. Kalvin Phillips, Thomas Partey and other names being spoken about are too defensive. Juve actually want an offensive midfielder and it has to be a cheap deal, they’re not spending crazy money. I’d go for Rodrigo de Paul but Atlético Madrid consider him a key player, so not easy at all and also… he won’t come cheap.

Gabriel Moscardo – The cost for interested clubs to sign Moscardo will be around €25m from what I’m told. Chelsea wanted him in August but there was no formal approach to Corinthians. Now, 5-6 clubs from the UK and also Italy are interested, but nothing has been decided or advanced at this stage. For Barça, he’s too expensive as of now.

Nestory Irankunda – Really, all the big European clubs knew this boy very well. UK, German and Spanish clubs sent their scouts multiple times to watch him but credit to Bayern – they were super fast, efficient and concrete in their negotiations to make the deal happen.

The post A busy day for Man United, De Jong contract latest, Osimhen’s Premier League hint, Casemiro Saudi truth, and more appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Originally published on the Daily Briefing thedailybriefing.io

Jadon Sancho to Juventus exclusive update

I want to start today’s column with an exclusive update on the future of Jadon Sancho. As we know, the situation has been really complicated for the last two months – between Sancho and Manchester United, the people at the club, the coaching staff and obviously Erik ten Hag.

I can confirm again, as I’ve said in recent weeks, that Sancho is expected to leave Manchester United in the January transfer window – that’s the idea. There have been many rumours about clubs, but now I can tell you that Juventus made contact in recent days to be informed on the Sancho situation.

Juve appreciate the player and think he could be a good opportunity on the market, but because of their financial situation, the only way to make it happen is a loan deal. The salary is an important one, so Juventus would need United to cover part of that salary.

To be clear, at the moment it’s not even a negotiation, just Juventus asking for information on the situation Sancho, so let’s see what happens because for United the best thing to do is to wait and see if other clubs join the race. We’ve had many rumours about a return to Borussia Dortmund, and interest from Saudi clubs, and for United it makes sense to sell the player rather than loan him out. Still, in case they can’t do that, keep an eye on a loan deal and keep an eye on Juventus.

Juve director Cristiano Giuntoli was in London almost two weeks ago, and there have been rumours about players like Kalvin Phillips and Thomas Partey, but from what I understand these players are not a priority. Sancho, however, is an opportunity, and they’ve had initial conversations, but it will depend on United, on the salary coverage, and if they’re open to a loan deal or not.

These will be crucial factors, because what’s not going to happen is Juve offering £40-50m – this is simply not an option. For Juventus the only way is a loan deal, potentially with a buy clause, not mandatory included, but we’re not at that stage yet. The crucial point will be to understand the conditions of the deal, and it’s too early to say at the moment.

From my perspective, I think Juventus would be a very good move for Sancho. They can offer space, new motivation, and a chance to fight for the title as they’re doing very well in Italy this season. Sancho certainly needs to leave and play regular football, so this looks a good option for him, but at the same time I think United will wait for permanent deal proposals, so that’s a potential issue.

Aaron Ramsdale’s exit a possibility, but Chelsea aren’t in for him

I think it’s a possibility that Aaron Ramsdale could leave Arsenal in January because he’s not playing, but it’s not something guaranteed at all. When I speak to my sources on this situation, I’m always told that the goalkeeper market is not easy at all, because it’s kind of a domino effect – at the moment we’re not seeing this kind of effect because clubs don’t tend to change their goalkeeper in the middle of the season.

At the moment the situation is really quiet, but perhaps things could change if there’s an injury somewhere or something like that. For sure Ramsdale wants to play more, but he’s also prepared to fight for his place at Arsenal in case he stays there. I can also guarantee that Ramsdale is not a target for Chelsea, and they’re not going to sign a goalkeeper in January, despite some speculation and links with Ramsdale.

The latest on Manchester United’s CB situation

As previously reported, the message on Raphael Varane remains very clear – it’s a tactical decision for him not to start games for Manchester United at the moment. Erik ten Hag is very happy with Harry Maguire at the moment, with how he’s playing, with his mentality, and also Jonny Evans has partnered him well.

Still, with Evans now injured I’m sure we’ll see Varane getting more playing time. It’s about rotation, though of course if they receive an important proposal in January the situation could change for Varane. At the moment I’m not aware of any negotiation, but if something happens it could be an open situation in January.

We know that in 2024 a top priority for United is a new centre-back, but whether it’ll be January or the summer will depend on opportunities. Many of the names I’ve mentioned on here multiple times like Edmond Tapsoba and Jean-Clair Todibo are important players for their clubs, so are unlikely to move in the middle of the season. If there are other opportunities, we will see, but otherwise it will be in the summer that we see an important defender targeted for United.

Santiago Gimenez to Tottenham or Chelsea?

We continue to have rumours about Santiago Gimenez, who is doing very well at Feyenoord – rumours about Chelsea and about Tottenham, but from what I can tell you, Tottenham sent their people to follow Gimenez multiple times, he’s going very well and scoring goals, but at the same time I’m hearing Chelsea are not making him a priority and are focusing on other players.

Chelsea know the situation well, that Gimenez could be available for around €45m in January, but at the moment nothing concrete is ongoing, but I’ll keep you posted if the situation changes. It’s also important to say that Tottenham keep following the player, so that could be one to watch as it looks like Gimenez could be an important player on the market in the near future.

Also on Spurs, we know they have some injuries in defence at the moment, but they are not desperate to sign cover. It will depend on opportunities. They’ve been unlucky because they’ve had a lot of injuries at the same time, but I’m told they won’t panic because they know most of these players will be back at the end of December, so they’ll assess the situation then.

Overall, I don’t see Tottenham spending crazy money in January, that’s not the plan at the moment. They’re happy with the balance in the squad right now, but of course the recovery process of some key players will be important, so perhaps they could look for opportunities towards the end of the January window.

Alphonso Davies and Real Madrid’s transfer plans

Alphonso Davies to Real Madrid is a possibility. It’s worth remembering that his situation is quite special because he was very close to signing a new long-term deal at Bayern, it was almost done back in March/April, but then everything at Bayern changed – Julian Nagelsmann was out, as well as key members of the board such as Oliver Kahn and Hasan Salihamidzic.

So with a new manager, new director and new CEO, Bayern had to re-start the conversations with Davies. From what I’m hearing at the moment the conversations have not been that positive, so there is a concrete chance for Bayern to sell the player in the summer, because he’s out of contract in 2025 and they don’t want to lose him on a free.

I don’t see anything happening in January, but in the summer it could be different, and for sure Real Madrid appreciate the player. They feel they need a new left-back, and so Davies is on Madrid’s list for the summer.

The private and public message is that Real Madrid won’t sign anyone in January. This is usually how they work – they don’t like to go for signings in the January window unless they really have to because of injuries and so on. They’re happy with their squad, so if the situation remains like this and they don’t have injuries then they won’t do anything in January.

Real Madrid are already planning for the summer – they want Davies, and also Endrick is on his way, so let’s see if they also have other targets for summer 2024.

Ruben Neves wants Premier League return amid Newcastle interest

Newcastle United are not optimistic about their chances of signing Ruben Neves, as it looks like it’s going to be really complicated. Of course I think it’s important to clarify the situation surrounding co-ownership of clubs, and hopefully that’s what this meeting on the 21st will do.

Still, we know Newcastle need a midfielder to cover for the suspended Sandro Tonali. They are still waiting to see what happens on the 21st and what clubs will decide, but they are looking on the midfielder market in any case, though it’s also still important for them to know if they’ll still be in the Champions League, or the Europa League, or even out of Europe altogether.

Newcastle will need to decide what kind of midfielder they want, and how much they’re ready to spend, but Kalvin Phillips could be another option for them. It’s not a negotiation as of today, but it could be an opportunity.

Neves remains a player they really appreciate, Eddie Howe is a big fan, and he has experience in the Premier League. They really like him, and Neves would be open to return to the Premier League, so let’s see what happens. At the moment all parties are waiting.

The post Jadon Sancho to Juventus, Aaron Ramsdale to Chelsea & more – exclusive Fabrizio Romano transfer news column appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Chelsea are keen on signing the Napoli striker Victor Osimhen in the coming months.

A report from Evening Standard claims that Chelsea are confident that the 24-year-old striker is keen on a move to Stanford Bridge, but Napoli are unlikely to sanction his departure midway through the season.

The Blues will have to wait until the summer transfer window in order to sign the player.

Osimhen has established himself as one of the best strikers in the world and he helped Napoli win the league title last season. The Nigerian international scored 31 goals across all competitions and he could prove to be a quality acquisition for the Blues.

Chelsea must look to sign a proven goal scorer in the coming months and Osimhen could transform them in the final third. They have signed Nicolas Jackson from Villarreal during the summer transfer window, but he has not been able to live up to the expectations so far.

Osimhen would be a tremendous upgrade on the former La Liga striker. The 24-year-old has all the attributes to succeed in the Premier League and he could be a game-changer for the Blues.

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Chelsea had a mediocre campaign last year and finished 12th in the league table. They have had a mixed start to the current campaign as well. Someone like Osimhen could transform them into genuine title containers in the coming seasons.

The Nigerian striker has been linked with other European clubs as well and it will be interesting to see if Chelsea can win the race for his signature.

The post Chelsea believe 24-year-old attacker is keen on a move to Stamford Bridge appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Jadon Sancho almost certain to leave and Al Hilal will be one to watch

Jadon Sancho is almost certain to leave Manchester United in January. There is both European and Saudi interest.

However, a lot of the European clubs want a ‘try before you buy’ type deal. This means a straight loan, or one with an option. Juventus are the latest club to consider Sancho, as Fabrizio Romano revealed.

Saudi clubs have considered Sancho before, and on September 7th Steven Gerrard’s Al-Ettifaq made a superficial enquiry. Manchester United wanted a loan with a £50m obligation to buy and this was out of Ettifaq’s budget.

Al-Hilal could be one to watch for Sancho. Their priority is to replace Neymar during his long-term ACL injury, but not necessarily with a like-for-like profile. They just want a goalscorer. Sancho hasn’t been tempted by a Saudi move in the past, but dealmakers aren’t put off by rejections…

Victor Osimhen and other names who turned down Saudi

This last point was apparent with Victor Osimhen, who was subject of an offer from Al-Hilal last summer. The Nigerian told the Obi One Podcast that every time an offer was turned down another was made and he eventually seriously considered joining.

“I never thought of [leaving in summer] at first,” he said. “But when this huge offer came from [Al-Hilal] it was tempting. It was a big one… I had three meetings and made up my mind to stick with the team.

“In August it was a huge decision for me to take. The more I said no to these people the more they increased their offer. It was literally like ‘wow’… they never gave up until the end of their transfer window.”

Saudi Pro League clubs are still likely to be busier in the summer rather than in January.

Casemiro and Kalvin Phillips are two targets for 2024. Tottenham’s Son remains on the list. He’s been there since last summer, as exclusively revealed last summer. Son has always dismissed links, but dealmakers always knew he wouldn’t leave in 2023.

Neymar, Bobby Firmino and Sadio Mane all turned down initial approaches, yet all three eventually joined the Saudi Pro League and that’s why dealmakers continue to push even with targets that show little or no interest.

Richarlison could also be a name to watch, but multiple Saudi clubs are worried about his age. Al-Ettifaq are one of them. And, of course, Mo Salah remains a big summer target. There’s no guarantee it will be Al-Ittihad who return for the Egyptian. Al-Hilal is also a possibility.

Victor Osimhen or Ivan Toney to Chelsea?

Osimhen to Saudi is very unlikely now in 2024. Having turned down the Al-Hilal offer, the Nigerian is likely to stay in Europe. He hasn’t agreed a contract with Napoli despite a two-year extension being quite close at points over the summer.

A mid-season move is still relatively unlikely, especially with Napoli well on course to get out of their Champions League group.

Osimhen is keen on a Premier League move and has spoken about how as a kid he owned both a Chelsea and Manchester United shirt, and used to watch Didier Drogba videos on YouTube to try and improve his game.

Chelsea will be looking for an elite striker in 2024. They are prepared to wait until summer if they need to rather than move in January. There are a lot of links with Ivan Toney, but the price Brentford would require in January makes that quite difficult. It could be as high as £80m. And not everyone in Chelsea’s senior leadership or recruitment team feels Toney is the right choice, especially mid-season when he’s gone so long without playing.

Toney wants to stay in London and would welcome an Arsenal or Chelsea offer, but don’t be surprised if the latter keep their powder dry and wait for another name.

Osimhen is undoubtedly an option, and he’ll be (a least a bit) cheaper next summer compared to last. This could also present a scenario where, as with Christopher Nkunku, Chelsea try to pre-sign Osimhen in January for the summer in order to jump ahead of the market.

But right now nothing is advanced because all interested clubs are simply trying to understand what Aurelio De Laurentiis will sell for since last summer he simply wouldn’t engage for anything under €150m. Now he may accept €120m. Plus, with Rudi Garcia outgoing, Osimhen may also take time to assess what life is like under Walter Mazzarri, who is expected to sign a short-term deal.

When to expect a decision from Kylian Mbappe

We may not get clarity on Kylian Mbappe’s future in January. PSG are calm about the situation. They feel like discussions over a renewal will take place in the latter half of the season, after the window closes. They are not braced for a Real Madrid offer mid-season, and Carlo Ancelotti has already ruled out doing January business.

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PSG have felt for some time that Mbappe will either renew long-term or renew with a clause allowing him still to be sold this summer. Both options protect the club financially since they allow PSG to get a fee.

But even if Mbappe leaves for free, PSG now feel they won’t lose out financially because Mbappe is prepared to forgo certain payments should he leave without renewing. That means both club and player can focus on football and deal with the specifics of either a renewal or exit later in the season. So there is no pressure or urgency to resolve Mbappe’s future before or during January.

Mbappe is expected to decide based on how the season and project goes at PSG, and that’s why a deep Champions League run is important.

The post Kylian Mbappe’s future, Jadon Sancho Al Hilal transfer option & Chelsea striker targets – Ben Jacobs column appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Chelsea will be in the market for a top striker in 2024 and the Blues may get one of the best in Europe as Mauricio Pochettino looks to take his team to another level. 

The West London club brought Nicolas Jackson to England this summer but the 22-year-old is still raw and it has been clear throughout the opening part of the campaign that the forward is not ready to lead the Blues’ line.

Therefore, Pochettino wants a World-class striker in 2024 and Napoli’s Victor Osimhen could be the man as the Premier League club’s hierarchy are not fully sold on Brentford’s Ivan Toney, states transfer expert Ben Jacobs.

Osimhen has grown into one of the best strikers in Europe over the last two seasons and the best is yet to come as the Nigerian star is still only 24 years old.

Writing in his exclusive Daily Briefing column for CaughtOffside, Ben Jacobs has given an insight into Chelsea’s striker targets for next year and has provided an update on the future of Osimhen.

“Osimhen is keen on a Premier League move and has spoken about how as a kid he owned both a Chelsea and Manchester United shirt, and used to watch Didier Drogba videos on YouTube to try and improve his game,” the journalist said.

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“Chelsea will be looking for an elite striker in 2024. They are prepared to wait until summer if they need to rather than move in January. There are a lot of links with Ivan Toney, but the price Brentford would require in January makes that quite difficult. It could be as high as £80m. And not everyone in Chelsea’s senior leadership or recruitment team feels Toney is the right choice, especially mid-season when he’s gone so long without playing.

“Osimhen is undoubtedly an option, and he’ll be (a least a bit) cheaper next summer compared to last. This could also present a scenario where, as with Christopher Nkunku, Chelsea try to pre-sign Osimhen in January for the summer in order to jump ahead of the market.

“But right now nothing is advanced because all interested clubs are simply trying to understand what Aurelio De Laurentiis will sell for since last summer he simply wouldn’t engage for anything under €150m. Now he may accept €120m.”

The post Exclusive: €120m striker an option for Chelsea next summer as hierarchy not fully sold on Ivan Toney appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Victor Osimhen is one of the most in-demand strikers in European football.

Despite helping guide Napoli to their first Serie A title in 33 years last season, the Nigerian is a candidate to leave Italy after the club published an offensive video on TikTok mocking the forward for missing a penalty kick.

Now with the club and player’s relationship considered ‘strained’, suitors are lining up ready to offer the 24-year-old a way out of Naples, and Chelsea are thought to be the club at the front of the queue.

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Even though Todd Boehly signed Nicolas Jackson from Villarreal in the summer, the 22-year-old is still seen as a prospect for the future and not quite the finished article.

Osimhen, on the other hand, is an already-establish clinical goalscorer, and arguably the missing piece to Mauricio Pochettino’s billion-pound squad. And keen to finally land their top attacking target, Chelsea have been handed a potentially significant boost.

According to a recent report from TEAMtalk, Napoli’s number nine is also open to holding talks with the Premier League outfit over a possible transfer – a ‘huge deal’ that is expected to be worth at least £120 million.

Speaking recently on the John Obi Mikel’s podcast, Osimhen, when asked which Premier League club are his favourite, said: “I don’t have a favourite Premier League team but I have two jerseys: Chelsea and Man United. Many friends of mine are Chelsea fans, few are Man United fans.”

During his three years at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, Osimhen, who has 18 months left on his deal, has scored 65 goals in 111 games in all competitions.

The post Victor Osimhen open to ‘huge’ transfer talks with Chelsea appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Chelsea legend Mikel John Obi has insisted he’s going to do his best to bring Victor Osimhen to Stamford Bridge in the summer transfer window.

Mikel was a star player for Chelsea for many years and it seems he’s keen to use his connections with fellow Nigerian Osimhen to try to lure the Napoli forward to west London.

Speaking on Mikel’s podcast today, as quoted in the post on X below from Fabrizio Romano, Mikel sounded determined to do what he could to lure Osimhen to his former club Chelsea, though we’ll have to wait and see how serious he’s actually being!

?? John Obi Mikel during interview with Osimhen: “Next season, I know you're gonna come to Chelsea man!”.

“I'm telling you, I'm gonna be the agent to broker that deal”.

“I'm gonna make sure that happens. We are crying out for someone like you — since Drogba left the club”. pic.twitter.com/rlqKpRBDTG

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) November 13, 2023

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Osimhen certainly seems ideal for Chelsea’s needs, with the jury still out on inconsistent young duo Nicolas Jackson and Armando Broja in that area of the pitch, while it remains to be seen how Christopher Nkunku will bounce back after his lengthy spell out injured since joining CFC.

Osimhen has been superb during his time in Serie A and he looks like he could surely relish the challenge of playing in the Premier League.

The post “I know you’re gonna come to Chelsea” – Blues legend sends clear transfer message to in-form star appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Napoli striker Victor Osimhen has admitted he has always had two Premier League shirts in his collection – Chelsea and Manchester United.

The Nigeria international has shown huge potential during his time in Serie A and it’s seen him linked several times with a possible move to England, so one imagines he’d favour joining either Chelsea or Man Utd if the opportunity came along.

Fabrizio Romano has spoken about Chelsea appreciating Osimhen, so this could be encouraging news for Blues fans, while Red Devils supporters might also now keep a closer eye on this saga as they could also surely benefit from a big signing up front in the near future.

Osimhen also admitted to being tempted by a huge offer to move to Saudi Arabia in the summer, though it’s clear he remains ambitious and focused on winning things in Europe as he turned them down a few times.

He told John Obi Mikel’s podcast: “I don’t have a favourite PL team but I have two jerseys: Chelsea and Man United. Many friends of mine are Chelsea fans, few are Man Utd fans.”

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On the Saudi interest, he added:  “I never thought of [leaving in summer] at first. But when this huge offer came from a Saudi club it was tempting. It was a big one… I had three meetings and made up my mind to stick with the team.

“In August it was a huge decision for me to take. The more I said no to these people the more they increased their offer. It was literally like ‘wow’… they never gave up until the end of their transfer window.”

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