Former Chelsea star John Obi Mikel has insisted Victor Osimhen is the player the club needs heading into the new season and suggested that without him, they could finish as low as seventh place.
The Blues have long-held interest in the Napoli star and their sporting director Giovanni Manna has had talks with Chelsea officials in London where the two parties have been negotiating a deal. Osimhen has handed in a transfer request to the Italian side and both parties are working on a solution.
Despite playing a pivotal part of Napoli’s charge to the Serie A title in 2022/23, scoring an incredible 26 league goals in 32 appearances, he looks set to be on the move after an injury-struck season last term. Chelsea meanwhile, have been keen to utilise out-of-favour striker Romelu Lukaku, who is said to be a top target for Napoli manager Antonio Conte, in order to land Osimhen.
He is valued at around £90million and have offered around £25m for Lukaku, amounting to a £115m-all around deal. However, Chelsea still value Lukaku at just under £40m which leaves some work to do between the sides.
Chelsea are also said to be willing to pay Osimhen the same wages as Lukaku’s eye-watering £325,000-a-week as the Nigeria star is reportedly unwilling to take a pay cut. Meanwhile, Mikel believes Osimhen is a the exact type of player Chelsea needs, and someone who is guaranteed to score them goals.
Without a player of his calibre, he fears his former club could finish as low as seventh place. “I’ve always said I predict Chelsea to finish, I think seventh in the league this season,” he told beIN Sports. “I just don’t see the team winning that many games.
“I think it’s going to be tough, it’s going to be a tough, tough season. I think when it goes and gets tough, I want to see how Enzo Maresca deals with that.
“I don’t think he’s been in that situation before but that’s going to be tested so. With the whole mess that’s going around the team, if we get a striker who can score goals, who can finish those chances we create, then maybe.
“I’ve said time and time again, there’s one player that is available, is probably just a straight swap. Napoli – Chelsea, [Romelu] Lukaku – [Victor] Osimhen and a bit more money for Napoli.
“That’s the deal I want to see done, because for me, he looks like a player who’s ready to come to the Premier League and score goals.”
