Chelsea have made Napoli attacker Victor Osimhen a key target ahead of the January transfer window.
Osimhen led Napoli to the Serie A title last season, scoring 31 goals in all competitions, and has continued his strong form this season.
According to the Evening Standard, Osimhen is the Blues’ top target after Mauricio Pochettino’s team produced a three-man shortlist of alternatives to boost their front line following a sluggish start to the season.
They are also interested in banned Brentford attacker Ivan Toney, who could fetch almost £100 million, and Club Brugge’s 18-year-old Antonio Nusa.
While Toney would bring proven top-flight net-busting experience, Nusa is more of an unknown quantity with just seven career goals but is one of Europe’s most widely admired wonderkids and has already played for Norway four times, scoring once.
All three would bring different qualities and prospects but Osimhen is the standout name after being one of Europe’s best players last season.
The Nigerian forward is currently recovering from a hamstring injury he picked up during the international break in October and has six goals in the Serie A this season.
The 24-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to the Premier League before the start of this season and he recently spoke about his admiration of the EPL while growing up.
Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has proven to be a shrewd businessman in handling the Nigerian’s transfer speculations, placing a £150m on his prized asset in the summer.
With his current contract at Napoli expiring in 2025, there has been talks to extend his stay at the Diego Maradona Stadium until 2026.
Napoli will hope to cling onto him until at least the summer and the Evening Standard claims that Chelsea will only finalise their January transfer plans in mid-December.
