Chelsea are the latest contenders in the battle for a Serie A striker who could be the long-awaited answer to their issues at centre-forward, according to a report.
Plenty of money has already been spent under the ownership of Todd Boehly. Chelsea have been investing in their present and future, but still have some issues in their squad to fix. For example, it remains on their agenda to strengthen at centre-forward.
For whatever reason, many prolific strikers have struggled to bring out the best in themselves at Stamford Bridge in recent years. As Chelsea construct a strong squad, it is one of the next areas they could look to upgrade.
During January, they added other attacking players like Joao Felix on loan from Atletico Madrid, and some promising talents like Mykhaylo Mudryk, Noni Madueke and David Datro Fofana.
But of those, only Fofana is an out-and-out centre-forward. Since he is only 20 years old and now in the Premier League for the first time, Chelsea might need to find someone more ready to contribute in the summer.
They are ready to welcome Christopher Nkunku from RB Leipzig. But again, he is more of a supporting option to a main striker. Thus, they need to look in the market at options who can lead the line for them as a focal point.
In that regard, Chelsea are now being linked, by the Daily Mirror, with Napoli sensation, Victor Osimhen.
Osimhen is currently the top scorer in Serie A this season, having found the net 16 times for the league leaders from just 17 appearances.
Thanks to the power and consistency he has been demonstrating, he has become of interest to several Premier League clubs. For example, Manchester United are looking at him as a potential long-term answer up front.
But now, the Daily Mirror believes that Chelsea are ready to rival them for Osimhen’s signature.
Even though Napoli may hold out for around £100million, Chelsea will not be afraid to spend in order to win the race for the 24-year-old.
Therefore, Napoli will be bracing themselves for the potential departure of their number nine, two years before his contract is supposed to expire.
If he can replicate the form he has been showing in Italy, Osimhen might be exactly what Chelsea have been crying out for in attack. And at his age, he could settle the matter for years to come.
There may be some concerns about whether he can deliver at Stamford Bridge. After all, Romelu Lukaku also showed good form in Serie A before falling below expectations after a big-money move to Chelsea.
But Osimhen’s stock seems to be rising and he could take any such next step in his stride.
Chelsea find new Aubameyang admirer
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang attending a Chelsea match
He would more than likely be more effective than Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who is simultaneously being linked with an exit from the club.
Aubameyang signed for Chelsea late in the summer to reunite with Thomas Tuchel. However, when the former Borussia Dortmund coach lost his job with Chelsea a few days later, it put the new recruit in limbo.
Under Graham Potter, ex-Arsenal attacker Aubameyang has not been able to replicate the form he showed with Barcelona in the six months prior to his Premier League return.
Left out of Chelsea’s updated squad list for the Champions League knockout phase, Aubameyang might not get many opportunities domestically either until the end of the season.
Hence, other clubs are starting to queue up for the 33-year-old. According to Football Insider, he may yet get another opportunity in the Premier League.
The online outlet is claiming that Chelsea could terminate Aubameyang’s contract. In turn, Everton are supposedly eyeing him as a gettable reinforcement.
Everton failed to sign anyone in January, despite gaining £40m from the sale of Anthony Gordon to Newcastle. To aid their battle against relegation, they might yet want to look for strikers who are available as free agents.
That would be the case for Aubameyang if Chelsea ripped up his contract. Everton would still have to take on his large wages, though.
Besides, the Gabonese forward has already made an appearance for Barcelona this season before he joined Chelsea. Therefore, it would be misguided to think Everton can bring him in and use him this season.
But Aubameyang will be looking at all his options in case he needs to end his spell with Chelsea by the summer, at least.
