MX23RW : Friday, January 24 10:15:21| >> :120:9055:9055:

Chelsea 'on brink' of £39m striker swap deal in three-player exchange

Triple threat: Chelsea 'close' to sensational swap deal with former manager
© Imago
Chelsea are reportedly close to sealing the signing of Napoli striker Victor Osimhen in a sensational three-player exchange.

The Chelsea-Victor Osimhen saga is reportedly nearing an end, as the Blues are said to be closing in on the signing of the Napoli marksman in a three-player exchange.

Despite reports of interest from Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea emerged as the frontrunners to sign Osimhen, whose desire to leave Napoli has been clear for some time.

Aurelio de Laurentiis - president of the Italian giants - previously insisted that Osimhen would not be allowed to leave unless his £113m release clause was triggered, but he has since relented on his demands thanks to new head coach Antonio Conte.

The former Chelsea boss has made it his priority to reunite with Chelsea outcast Romelu Lukaku following their successful partnership with Inter Milan, but Napoli have so far failed to meet the Blues' £37.5m asking price.

However, Chelsea's interest in Osimhen and Conte's desire to work with Lukaku always meant that a part-exchange deal could be on the cards, and according to The Sun, the two parties are finally close to striking a deal.

Victor Osimhen of Ssc Napoli during warm up before the Serie A match on June 28, 2024© Imago

Napoli to sign Lukaku, Cesare Casadei in exchange for Osimhen?

As well as Lukaku, who has been banished to Under-21s training while the saga rumbles on, the Blues are supposedly willing to let young midfielder Cesare Casadei join the 2022-23 Italian champions.

The 21-year-old made 11 appearances for Chelsea in the 2023-24 Premier League season but was not expected to play a prominent role under Enzo Maresca, even with Conor Gallagher's future still up in the air.

Casadei is supposedly valued at £17m by Chelsea, who will also fork out £39m in addition to the unwanted duo in order to sign Osimhen, who is keen to test himself in the Premier League after his success in Serie A.

The former Lille man won the Capocannoniere - awarded to the highest scorer in the Italian top flight - in Napoli's triumphant 2022-23 Serie A season with 26 goals, but the 2023-24 campaign was far more turbulent for Osimhen.

The Nigerian was memorably mocked by the official Napoli TikTok account and also fell out with former head coach Rudi Garcia during a match in September, as the Partenopei finished in a lowly 10th spot.

Chelsea finally fixing major issue with Osimhen signing

Belgium's Romelu Lukaku reacts in June 2024 [IMAGO]© Imago

For all the millions - and now billions - that they have spent in the Todd Boehly era, the lack of a seasoned, 20-goal-a-season centre-forward has stuck out like a sore thumb at Stamford Bridge for a number of years now.

With Lukaku ostracised and Armando Broja failing to make the grade, Nicolas Jackson shouldered that responsibility with moderate success last season, scoring 14 Premier League goals and 17 in all competitions.

However, the Senegal international still has a lot to learn at 23, having been guilty of wasting numerous gilt-edged chances last season in addition to disciplinary concerns, picking up 10 Premier League yellow cards over the course of the campaign.

The summer 2024 window has been yet another exercise in adding to an already-bloated squad with teenage talents for Chelsea, but should the Osimhen deal go through, it will represent their smartest piece of business this year.

ID:550372:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect6111:
Written by
Ben Knapton

Victor Osimhen future - Click here for more stories

Click here for more stories about Victor Osimhen

Click here for more stories about Chelsea

Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
 Napoli Offer Victor Osimhen Swap Deal for Two Chelsea Stars on August 14, 2024
Read Next:
Napoli 'request' second Chelsea player in Osimhen, Lukaku proposal
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free daily transfer newsletter! Sent twice a day during the transfer window.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool21155150203050
2Arsenal22128243212244
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest22135433221144
4Chelsea22117444271740
5Manchester CityMan City22115644291538
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle22115638261238
7Bournemouth22107536261037
8Aston Villa2210663334-136
9Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2281043530534
10Fulham228953430433
11Brentford2284104039128
12Crystal Palace226972528-327
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd2275102732-526
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham2275102743-1626
15Tottenham HotspurSpurs22731245351024
16Everton214891828-1020
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2244143251-1916
18Ipswich TownIpswich2237122043-2316
19Leicester CityLeicester2235142348-2514
20Southampton2213181550-356


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!