Signing Victor Osimhen would be an ‘easy deal’ for Chelsea to complete this summer, according to his former international team-mate John Obi Mikel. The Blues are one of numerous clubs rumoured to be hot on the heels of Osimhen, who is set to be at the centre of a fiercely-contested transfer battle at the end of the season.
Top sides have been circling Osimhen for years, with his remarkable goal-scoring exploits at Napoli making him one of the hottest strikers in Europe. The presence of a £63million release clause in his contract, which can be activated this summer, makes it virtually certain that he will leave Naples for a new challenge.
The 26-year-old has spent this season on loan at Galatasaray after a falling out with Napoli bosses. And he remains red-hot property, having scored 26 goals in 30 matches across all competitions.
Mikel, who made nearly 400 appearances for Chelsea, shared the Nigeria dressing room with Osimhen during the final two years of his international career. And he is adamant that the striker wants a move to Stamford Bridge, despite the calibre of rival suitors chasing his signature.
“[Chelsea] almost got the deal done for Osimhen last summer,” Mikel told Sky Sports News. “The club wanted the player and the player wanted to come as well.
“I know exactly where we stopped. If we have to pick it up again in the summer, it’s just pretty easy to get it done because the player really wants to come to the football club.”
Osimhen is not the only name in the mix as Chelsea weigh up whether to go big on a new centre-forward. Newcastle United marksman Alexander Isak is sure to pop up on virtually every transfer wish list as he comes to the end of another strong individual season, although the Magpies will demand a nine-figure fee to let him go.
Mikel believes that Osimhen and Isak are the correct standard of strikers Chelsea should be pursuing if they are serious about boosting their Premier League title credentials.
“If you’re talking about a striker to come in and help Chelsea Football Club, you have to talk about Alexander Isak and you have to talk about Victor Osimhen,” he continued. “For me, these are the top two strikers. If we were able to get one of those guys they would definitely help for next season in terms of being able to compete to win the Premier League.”
