Arsenal’s decision to sign a £63 million striker gives Chelsea a free run to sign a player.
Arsenal’s decision to sign a £63 million striker gives Chelsea a free run to sign a player.
Chelsea will have a free hand when it comes to acquiring a £63 million striker in 2025, following Arsenal’s choice to play rivals in London.
Chelsea fails to acquire a top-tier striker this summer
Even though Enzo Maresca made moves for prominent names, he was unable to get one over the line in time, despite numerous stories associating the Blues with a world-class new striker.
In the final week of the transfer window, Chelsea sought to recruit Brentford’s Ivan Toney before the Englishman signed with Al-Ahli, a Saudi Pro League team. Todd Boehly also tried to pull off a spectacular last-minute deal for Victor Osimhen.
One of Serie A’s most prolific goal scorers in recent years, the Nigerian had to make do with a loan move to Turkish Süper Lig champions Galatasaray after last-minute deals to Chelsea and Al-Ahli fell through.
| Osimhen’s Serie A Statistics 2023/24 | |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 25 |
| Goals | 15 |
| Assists | 3 |
| Shots Per 90 | 3.86 |
| Key Passes Per 90 | 1.05 |
| Successful Take-Ons Per 90 | 0.73 |
According to Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea attempted to sign Osimhen on the day of the summer transfer window, but they were unable to complete the agreement in time for the 25-year-old to make a Premier League debut.
Osimhen’s planned transfer to Stamford Bridge has been shelved for the time being, but his desire to join and his displeasure that they couldn’t complete the deal by 11 p.m. that day have been disclosed by former Chelsea midfielder John Obi-Mikel.
Regarding Osimhen’s botched Chelsea transfer, Obi-Mikel stated, “I know what Victor wanted, I know what the club offered him, I know where we got to, we finally got to a compromise, both sides had to compromise, I was just some little things here and there, paperwork, medical, and a few issues we just couldn’t get over the line and we didn’t have much time.”
“I can see Chelsea’s ambition for this club now, and on Victor’s side, how much he really wanted to come to the club, so both sides really played their part in getting the deal done. I commend Chelsea for that.”
MAKE MONEY ONLINE
He felt let down that it didn’t work out. We chatted for twenty minutes when I called him immediately before the transfer window closed. I told him, “Listen, I’m always here for you. You need to keep your head down, you need to keep working hard, you need to keep training. I know it’s not the best situation right now but I know you’re strong.”
In 2025, Chelsea will have the option to recruit Osimhen at no cost.
Osimhen’s contract features a break option that allows some interested clubs to jump for him in January, even if the African has joined Galatasaray on loan for the remainder of the current campaign.
If Chelsea wants to rekindle their interest in him at the beginning of the new year, this may be a great chance given his new release clause from Napoli is likewise set at approximately £63 million. According to GiveMeSport, since Arsenal decided against pursuing a winter transfer for Osimhen, Chelsea will also have unrestricted access to sign him.
