FINALLY DONE: Fabrizio Romano has provided the latest update on Chelsea’s transfer news, stating that the deal is being finalized, with the player’s medical exam already scheduled. The announcement is expected to be made today.
Chelsea still have a chance to secure a transfer for striker Victor Osimhen before the transfer window closes, contingent on Napoli’s willingness to negotiate. Osimhen, who has been linked with Chelsea for a while, seemed poised to leave Napoli this summer. However, no move has occurred yet, despite Napoli confirming an agreement with the player.
Osimhen’s contract includes a £110 million release clause, but Chelsea is interested in arranging a loan deal with Napoli. Negotiations between Napoli and Paris Saint-Germain for Osimhen have reportedly stalled, potentially providing Chelsea with an opportunity in the final weeks of the window.
According to Matt Law of The Telegraph, a loan deal bringing Osimhen to Stamford Bridge before the window closes remains a possibility if Napoli’s position changes. He stated on the “London is Blue” podcast, “I know there’s different information around this, but I have been told that Osimhen as a potential loan is not dead. If at any stage Napoli show a willingness to loan Osimhen other than sell him, Chelsea will look at it. I have been told that by a very good source, but at the moment Napoli haven’t shown a willingness to loan. But should they do, then Chelsea will be there.”
There are also discussions about a potential swap deal involving Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku moving in the opposite direction. Former Chelsea manager Antonio Conte is reportedly interested in reuniting with Lukaku.
Law suggests that the situations of both strikers at their current clubs could lead to a possible deal if circumstances remain unchanged. He added, “If it gets to the end of the window and you’ve got a striker in Lukaku who only wants to join Napoli really, and you’ve got a striker in Osimhen, who’s supposedly telling people he’ll never play for Napoli again, then they might have to find some sort of deal. These days it’s always separate deals it wouldn’t be a swap, but whether they could both do loans with obligations or both do loans with options that end up getting them both out of a problem, don’t rule it out.”