Napoli’s striker Victor Osimhen’s latest struggles have raised doubts inside Chelsea’s hierarchy concerning a possible summer season transfer.
Osimhen’s glowing kind initially of the season had made him one of the crucial sought-after strikers in world soccer, with the Blues among the many golf equipment eager to safe his providers.
“At first of the season and coming into into 2024, Osimhen was undoubtedly thought to be among the best strikers in world soccer,” remarked soccer journalist Carlo Garganese. “He scored 31 targets in 39 video games in all competitions final season as Napoli received their first Scudetto in 33 years,” he added.
Nevertheless, because the season has progressed, Osimhen’s kind has deteriorated alarmingly.
“Nevertheless, this time period, the Nigerian’s kind has fallen off badly, significantly in latest months. In 14 video games in 2024, Osimhen has solely scored in 4 matches. He additionally has only one help in that point. His normal degree of efficiency has additionally been vastly disappointing,” Garganese added.
Osimhen’s struggles had been laid naked in Napoli’s 3-1 Champions League defeat to Barcelona, the place he received simply one among his 10 duels. “He additionally gave the ball away 11 occasions and didn’t win it again as soon as,” Garganese famous.
“Osimhen was offside 4 occasions within the first 20 minutes and was dominated by Barcelona’s 17-year-old rookie Pau Cubarsi,” he stated.
The 25-year-old’s latest exhibiting towards Atalanta, the place he was nullified by Isak Hien in a 3-0 dwelling loss, has solely compounded issues over his kind.
“There are strategies that Osimhen’s impending departure from Napoli has induced him to lose motivation,” Garganese remarked.
These issues have forged doubts within the thoughts of Chelsea proprietor Todd Boehly, who is aware of buying Osimhen would require a major monetary outlay. “The Blues have splashed out over €1 billion within the final 18 months since Boehly purchased the membership, and he’s below strain – additionally because of FFP – to not waste any more cash,” Garganese defined.
Regardless of their lavish expenditure, Chelsea have endured a dismal marketing campaign, presently languishing in ninth place. “Considered one of Chelsea’s largest issues has been their lack of firepower. As such, the Blues have made the signing of a prime striker a precedence in the summertime,” Garganese added.
Whereas Osimhen stays on Chelsea’s shortlist, studies counsel that Paris Saint-Germain have now taken pole place within the race for his signature amidst the Blues’ uncertainties.
It’s understood that Osimhen has determined to depart Napoli on the finish of the season.
“His relationship with the membership has soured following the TikTok scandal, wherein their social media crew mocked his penalty miss towards Bologna,” Garganese famous.
Nevertheless, regardless of Napoli’s wrestle this season, Osimhen is on a course to show his doubter flawed, as he scored his twelfth league purpose of the season of their comeback 4-2 win at Monza on Sunday.
After happening by a purpose early within the first half, the Nigerian levelled issues 10 minutes into the second half, and that spurred a ruthless resurgence with extra targets from Matteo Politano, Piotr Zieliński, and Giacomo Raspadori.
Osimhen rose excessive to go dwelling Frank Anguissa’s cross and didn’t thoughts injuring his nostril through the dangerous fall. The equaliser was his 111th membership profession purpose as he prepares for an additional journey at one other membership subsequent season.
