Chelsea’s hopes of landing Victor Osimhen have taken a serious blow as Napoli remain firm on their £84.5m price tag 😤. Despite weeks of negotiations, no breakthrough has been made, and now the deal is officially stalling ahead of the 2025/26 season

Chelsea’s Pursuit of Victor Osimhen Faces Major Obstacles Amid Financial Concerns and Transfer Strategy Shift

Chelsea Football Club’s determined chase for Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen, currently contracted to Italian giants Napoli, has encountered a major stumbling block. The highly-rated forward, who has become one of Europe’s most sought-after attacking talents, is proving difficult to acquire due to Napoli’s rigid demand of £84.5 million for his services and Osimhen’s substantial wage requirements.

As the West London club prepares for the upcoming 2025/26 Premier League campaign, their newly appointed head coach, Enzo Maresca, is taking a notably cautious approach to squad building. Rather than rushing into high-profile signings, Maresca has publicly emphasized the importance of patience and due diligence in the transfer market. In a recent press conference, he stated, “We won’t rush deals,” signaling a clear intent to avoid financially reckless decisions, even in pursuit of a marquee name like Osimhen.

This stance has inevitably left Chelsea at a crossroads regarding their attacking options. The club has long been searching for a proven, consistent goalscorer to lead their front line, especially with the ambition to challenge seriously both domestically and in Europe. However, their inability to move forward with Osimhen’s deal has created a cloud of uncertainty around who will fill that crucial role.

Victor Osimhen, aged 26, is a prolific striker who has consistently demonstrated elite-level finishing ability throughout his career. During the 2024/25 season, while on loan at Turkish side Galatasaray, he had a phenomenal campaign—scoring 37 goals in 41 matches across all competitions. His goalscoring exploits were central to Galatasaray clinching their third consecutive Süper Lig title and a domestic cup triumph, with Osimhen notably scoring twice in the Turkish Cup final against Trabzonspor.

Despite returning to his parent club Napoli—where he is under contract until June 2026—Osimhen’s future appears far from settled. Multiple credible reports indicate that the player is eager to leave permanently, driven by a desire for a new challenge and possibly higher wages. Chelsea had initially attempted to sign Osimhen as early as the summer of 2024, proposing a loan deal with a mandatory buy clause. However, Napoli refused to entertain anything short of a full transfer, demanding the full £84.5 million release clause be met up front.

Compounding the issue are Osimhen’s salary expectations, believed to be in the region of £211,000 per week. This figure significantly exceeds the current wage ceiling Chelsea have imposed on their squad since the ownership transition to Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali in late 2022. The club has made a concerted effort to control payroll expenses, with only a select few senior players earning over £200,000 weekly. Osimhen’s unwillingness to accept a reduced wage has become a major roadblock in the negotiation process.

Coach Maresca, who successfully led Chelsea to a top-four finish in the Premier League and secured Champions League qualification, has made it abundantly clear that financial sustainability remains a non-negotiable principle. “We want players,” Maresca reiterated, “but we want them on our terms.” His disciplined approach to recruitment is already reflected in Chelsea’s recent acquisitions.

Rather than splashing exorbitant sums on established stars, the Blues have opted to sign promising young talents with significant long-term potential. Notable recent arrivals include Liam Delap, purchased from Ipswich Town for £30 million, and Joao Pedro, acquired from Brighton for £50 million. Both have impressed early on—Delap scoring his debut goal in a 3-0 Club World Cup victory over Esperance Tunis, and Pedro netting a brace in a semi-final match against Fluminense.

However, while these signings add depth and promise, they do not fully address Chelsea’s need for a proven world-class striker. Osimhen, with his experience and goal record, remains a priority—but the deal’s financial complications may ultimately prove too steep.

Chelsea’s pursuit is also being complicated by growing competition from other top-tier clubs. Manchester United has reportedly reopened talks with Osimhen’s camp, hoping to capitalize on Chelsea’s stalled negotiations. Meanwhile, Al-Hilal of the Saudi Pro League has entered the race, encouraged by public comments from fellow Nigerian striker Odion Ighalo, who urged Osimhen to consider a lucrative move to the Middle East.

In addition, Galatasaray, where Osimhen enjoyed such great success, is actively working to bring him back on a permanent basis. They are reportedly prepared to meet a revised £64 million release clause, and Osimhen himself is believed to be open to returning to Istanbul, given the strong bond he formed with the club and its fans. Some sources even suggest he is taking aggressive steps behind the scenes to force an exit from Napoli.

Meanwhile, Chelsea’s current striker situation remains precarious. Nicolas Jackson, their main center-forward, has shown moments of brilliance, scoring 24 league goals and providing 10 assists across two seasons. However, his form has been inconsistent, and he has struggled with disciplinary issues, including a red card against Newcastle that frustrated both fans and coaching staff. Maresca has acknowledged the player’s raw potential but stated that Jackson is still “learning the ropes” and not yet the finished article.

While the signings of Delap and Pedro add competition, neither is viewed as a natural replacement for someone of Osimhen’s pedigree. Christopher Nkunku and Marc Guiu are additional attacking options within the squad, but Maresca reportedly sees them more as supporting forwards or hybrid players, not as traditional strikers. Rumors continue to circulate that one or both may leave Stamford Bridge before the current transfer window closes.

Given the scale of investment Chelsea has already made—reportedly exceeding £200 million this summer alone, including deals for Estevao Willian and Geovany Quenda—any move for Osimhen would likely require offsetting through player sales. Goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic is rumored to be close to a £21.5 million transfer to Sunderland, and other squad players may follow suit.

Napoli, meanwhile, is rumored to be interested in a swap deal involving Chelsea’s Romelu Lukaku and midfielder Cesare Casadei, but this would still require Chelsea to overcome the same hurdles of wage demands and upfront fee.

Coach Maresca’s reluctance to rush into high-risk signings underlines Chelsea’s broader vision of building a team that can sustain success over multiple seasons. Although their recent FIFA Club World Cup triumph, including a 3-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain in the final, offers reason for optimism, the Premier League and UEFA Champions League represent far tougher arenas.

The margin between competing and conquering may well come down to whether the club can find and sign a consistent, high-caliber striker. With Victor Osimhen ticking all the right boxes from a footballing perspective—having netted 26 goals in just 30 Süper Lig matches and playing a crucial role for Nigeria’s national team—he remains the ideal candidate. But the financial realities and logistical challenges surrounding the transfer may ultimately force Chelsea to explore alternative options.

As the summer transfer window continues to unfold, the next few weeks will be pivotal. Chelsea’s ambitions to climb back to the summit of European football depend heavily on their ability to strengthen key positions, particularly at striker. Whether they manage to land their dream target in Osimhen or shift their focus to a more feasible candidate remains to be seen—but what’s certain is that the club cannot afford to get this one wrong.