{"id":124414,"date":"2023-11-27T17:11:32","date_gmt":"2023-11-27T17:11:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2023\/11\/27\/chelsea-ready-to-test-napoli-resolve-over-victor-osimhen-with-january-bid\/"},"modified":"2023-11-27T17:11:32","modified_gmt":"2023-11-27T17:11:32","slug":"chelsea-ready-to-test-napoli-resolve-over-victor-osimhen-with-january-bid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2023\/11\/27\/chelsea-ready-to-test-napoli-resolve-over-victor-osimhen-with-january-bid\/","title":{"rendered":"Chelsea ready to test Napoli resolve over Victor Osimhen with January bid \u2013"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

\n

Chelsea are ready to bring their pursuit of Napoli striker Victor Osimhen forward to the January\u00a0transfer\u00a0window,\u00a0<\/strong>90min<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0understands.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Osimhen has long been Chelsea\u2019s top striker target but the Blues began to explore other targets last summer when it appeared as though the Nigeria international would sign a new contract in Naples. Ivan Toney, Santiago Gimenez and Lautaro Martinez were among those being tracked.<\/p>\n

Since then, however,\u00a0issues have arisen in Osimhen\u2019s negotiations with Napoli\u00a0and sources have confirmed to\u00a090min<\/em>\u00a0that there is little chance he will agree to an extension despite his club\u2019s ongoing efforts.<\/p>\n

That has given\u00a0Chelsea\u00a0hope that a move for Osimhen in 2024 is a serious possibility \u2013 and while a summer transfer remains the most likely outcome,\u00a090min<\/em>\u00a0understands the Blues are ready to test Napoli\u2019s resolve sooner with a January bid.<\/p>\n

Chelsea are well aware that they may need to break their transfer record to land 24-year-old Osimhen, whose price tag is expected to exceed the \u00a3115m paid to sign Moises Caicedo from Brighton & Hove Albion this past summer.<\/p>\n

While Napoli remain keen to keep Osimhen, they may be forced to listen to interest as the striker enters the final 18 months of his contract.<\/p>\n

\n
\"Victor<\/figure>\n

Osimhen\u2019s future is far from certain \/ Francesco Pecoraro\/GettyImages<\/p>\n

\n

Chelsea are also among the sides to have\u00a0scouted Osimhen\u2019s Napoli teammate Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who is in talks over his own contract extension. Napoli are adamant they will not lose their two top assets in the same year, with Osimhen the more likely to be granted an exit from Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in 2024.<\/p>\n

Napoli\u2019s financial demands will obviously impact Chelsea\u2019s next move as the free-spending Blues may need to raise funds through player sales before pulling the trigger on any new signings.<\/p>\n

Centre-back Trevoh Chalobah is available for transfer and Chelsea could also part ways with full-back Ian Maatsen, who is approaching the final 18 months of his own contract and is yet to ink an extension.<\/p>\n

\n
\n