“Chelsea and Arsenal Withdraw from Victor Osimhen Transfer Pursuit”
Chelsea and Arsenal have both withdrawn from the competition to sign Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen, according to Italian transfer market expert Ciro Troise.
Chelsea had previously shown interest in Osimhen but faced obstacles due to the player’s substantial release clause. The move was also linked to a potential deal involving Romelu Lukaku, where Lukaku would have joined Napoli permanently. However, Chelsea has now shifted focus to Atletico Madrid’s Samu Omorodion as a potential replacement for Osimhen.
Arsenal, which had hoped to take advantage of Chelsea’s withdrawal, has also decided to step back from the pursuit. The club’s interest in Osimhen was part of their broader strategy to strengthen their attacking options, but they have now abandoned this approach.
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) remains interested but has not yet met Napoli’s valuation, which is reportedly over €70 million. PSG’s efforts to finalize a deal have been hampered by their failure to sell Kolo Muani.
Napoli’s new manager, Antonio Conte, is reportedly keen on Romelu Lukaku as a key player for the team. Conte’s preference for Lukaku could influence Napoli’s transfer strategy moving forward.
Troise’s comments highlight that while Osimhen’s situation remains fluid, the primary interest from top clubs like Chelsea and Arsenal has diminished, reshaping the landscape of his potential transfer.