Chelsea are reportedly nearing a major deal to sign Victor Osimhen, with the proposed agreement potentially involving two players moving to Napoli in exchange.
The Blues have been actively searching for a new striker throughout the summer and have intensified their efforts to secure Osimhen after their pursuit of Atletico Madrid’s Samu Omorodion fell through.
Osimhen, 25, has expressed a desire to leave Napoli, who are now focused on signing Romelu Lukaku as his replacement.
Chelsea are looking to use Lukaku as part of the negotiation to lower Osimhen’s estimated £100 million price tag. Additionally, midfielder Cesare Casadei is reportedly part of the deal discussions.
According to The Sun, Chelsea might end up paying just £39 million for Osimhen if Lukaku and Casadei are included in the trade.
Napoli manager Antonio Conte, who previously managed Lukaku at Inter Milan, is keen on reuniting with the forward.
Lukaku is currently training with Chelsea’s reserves while his future remains uncertain. Chelsea is looking to offload his £325,000-a-week salary and had hoped for a £37 million bid, which could be used to negotiate down Osimhen’s fee.
The potential inclusion of Casadei, who joined Chelsea during the Todd Boehly era and was highly regarded for his performances in Inter Milan’s academy, comes as a surprise.The 21-year-old Italian had been expected to make a significant impact at Chelsea but has struggled to impress during his sporadic appearances and loan spells in the Championship.
His involvement in the Osimhen deal suggests that Chelsea’s confidence in his future potential may have diminished.
Former Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino had high hopes for Casadei, highlighting his ‘great potential,’ but the club’s decision to offer him to Napoli indicates a shift in their plans.
