Former Chelsea and Nigeria midfielder John Obi Mikel has begged Napoli striker Victor Osimhen to make the switch to Stamford Bridge this summer, insisting that the Premier League side ‘should become his priority’ despite the player’s interest in joining Paris Saint-Germain.
Napoli director Giovanni Manna has been in London over the last few days to discuss a number of potential new Partenopei signings, as well as holding talks with Chelsea over a potential sale of the 2022-23 Capocannoniere.
Napoli are still pushing to sign former Inter and Roma striker Romelu Lukaku from Chelsea, but may need to sell Osimhen directly to the West Londoners in order to bridge the gap between the two clubs’ valuations.
Chelsea, meanwhile, are also on the hunt for a new striker as Lukaku is not part of Enzo Maresca’s plans. They have also recently seen a deal for Atletico Madrid striker Samu Omorodion fall through.
Obi Mikel: ‘Chelsea should become Osimhen’s priority’
Two Chelsea legends are reportedly in constant contact with Osimhen in an attempt to convince him to join the club this transfer window.
They include Obi Mikel and former striker Didier Drogba, whom Osimhen reportedly idolised as a child.
“I hope that Chelsea fans finally get to see him at our club, I would like him to understand that Chelsea should become his absolute priority,” Obi Mikel told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
He added: “It would be fantastic if he came to play here.”
The current stumbling block in discussions with Chelsea is the set of personal terms that Osimhen is after. His current deal with Napoli earns him around €10m, not including bonuses, which would comfortably place him among Chelsea’s very highest earners.
The club’s current goal, though, is to try and reduce the average expenditure on players’ salaries.
Discussions between all relevant parties are set to continue over the coming days.
Osimhen , so good he priced himself out of any Clubs , the Ego has landed! Chelsea have thrown so much money at trash players in the last few years they don’t even know who is on their books anymore!