Victor Osimhen, the Napoli forward, seems to have leaned towards Chelsea as his preferred Premier League destination, despite being pursued by Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur. Speculation surrounding his potential departure from Napoli next summer is intensifying. Although the Serie A champions have been striving to secure him with a new contract, an agreement has yet to be reached.
Given Osimhen’s contract expiring in June 2025, Napoli’s owner, Aurelio de Laurentiis, might face pressure to sell him at the season’s end to avoid a discounted exit the following year.
Chelsea, Arsenal, Spurs, and Manchester United are all on the lookout for strikers, setting the stage for a fierce competition to acquire the Nigerian star. However, Manchester United might shift their focus to other scorers, with Erik ten Hag eyeing Porto’s Mehdi Taremi.
Osimhen hasn’t shied away from discussions about his future. In an appearance on John Obi Mikel’s podcast, he confessed to owning shirts of both Man Utd and Chelsea as a child, hinting at a potential move to England, a league widely watched in Nigeria.
According to Evening Standard journalist Nizaar Kinsella, Osimhen has already made up his mind and is inclined to turn down offers from Arsenal and Spurs to team up with Mauricio Pochettino at Chelsea.
Kinsella highlights Osimhen’s desire to emulate the footsteps of Chelsea icon Didier Drogba, whom he’s always admired. Despite a potential interest in Manchester United, the likelihood of them signing a striker seems slim, leaving Chelsea, Arsenal, and Spurs as the main contenders, with Osimhen leaning towards Chelsea.
Osimhen expressed his efforts to model his game after Drogba while conversing with Mikel, revealing that Drogba even sent him an inspiring and uplifting message on Instagram, further solidifying his admiration for the legendary striker.