Chelsea interested in signing Napoli striker Victor Osimhen as talks continue over Romelu Lukaku going other way; Napoli boss Antonio Conte wants to sign Lukaku; Atletico Madrid remain in talks with Chelsea over a potential deal for Conor Gallagher with Spurs also expected to make offer
Tuesday 30 July 2024 18:21, UK
Chelsea are interested in signing Victor Osimhen from Napoli as negotiations continue over Romelu Lukaku heading in the opposite direction.
The size of the numbers involved had put Chelsea off signing Osimhen earlier in the window, but a potential deal could be revived as the clubs continue discussions over Lukaku going to the Serie A side.
The Belgium international's exit would free up a sizeable amount of money on Chelsea's wage bill, although a deal for Osimhen is still difficult to do but has not been ruled out.
Discussions have centred on Lukaku going on a permanent deal to Napoli, while Osimhen moving to Chelsea either permanently or on an initial loan with an obligation to buy have both been discussed.
The latter currently looks a more realistic option as far as Chelsea are concerned.
However, Osimhen's agent Roberto Calenda has been quoted on social media in the last few hours as saying a simple player exchange is "fantasy... as if he was a player to be delivered quickly."
Napoli are willing to do a deal for the Nigeria international after he signed a new contract in December that included a significant pay rise and a release clause worth more than £100m.
Napoli cannot afford a scenario where they buy Lukaku and still have the prospect of Osimhen returning after a loan.
For Napoli to consider any kind of move, there would have to be the guarantee of Osimhen moving on a permanent basis - both from a transfer fee and wages perspective.
It is understood Osimhen is on more money than Lukaku - €10m (£8.4m) per year vs Lukaku's €7m (£5.9m).
The 25-year-old has scored 76 goals in 133 appearances for the Italian side since joining from Lille in July 2020.
PSG remain interested in Osimhen, but currently have no agreement with Napoli. There is also strong Saudi interest - but it is thought he does not want to make that move at this stage of his career.
Ideally, he wants Champions League football, but a move to the Premier League and Chelsea is one he is thought to be very open to.
Osimhen and Lukaku are training away from the rest of their respective squads amid the uncertainty over their futures.
New Napoli head coach Antonio Conte really wants to sign Lukaku, whom he managed for two seasons at Inter Milan.
The 31-year-old, who joined Chelsea in August 2021 for £97.5m, spent last season on loan at Roma as he scored 21 goals in 47 games in all competitions.
Atletico Madrid remain in talks with Chelsea over a potential deal for Conor Gallagher.
A sizable gap in valuation still exists between the clubs, with the LaLiga side hoping to negotiate down Chelsea's £40m demands.
Atletico had a £30m offer rejected earlier in the window and remain keen to sign him.
Tottenham are also expected to make an offer for the England international. Ange Postecoglou's side have a long-term interest in the 24-year-old and tried to sign him last summer.
Aston Villa have also had an interest in Gallagher, who is set to return from his post-Euros holiday soon.
Putting too much weight onto pre-season results is a perennial trap that must be avoided. But while alarm bells may not yet be ringing at Chelsea, their performances during their US tour so far will have many fans concerned that a summer of off-field upheaval has brought further problems on the pitch.
New boss Enzo Maresca shrugged that his side "are going to concede goals" with the play-out-from-the-back style he is trying to impose after defensive errors saw Chelsea struggle to a 2-2 draw with League One Wrexham in their first outing Stateside.
But letting in four against Celtic was probably beyond his acceptable allowance.
In both games - with all the caveats of pre-season in place - Chelsea looked open, unsure and error-prone. Whether it was Wrexham or Celtic forwards, there was repeatedly space in behind to exploit - or Chelsea defenders giving the ball back to the opposition in dangerous areas.
Read Pete Smith's feature on Chelsea's troubling pre-season here.
The 2024 summer transfer window officially closes on August 30 at 11pm UK time in the Premier League and 11.30pm in Scotland.
The Premier League has brought forward Deadline Day to link up with the other major leagues in Europe. The closing dates were set following discussions with the leagues in England, Germany, Italy, Spain and France.
