Chelsea, on Thursday, is reportedly not planning another move for Napoli striker Victor Osimhen in the upcoming January transfer window, despite previous interest in the Nigerian international.
The 25-year-old, currently on loan at Galatasaray, has been in sensational form, scoring 12 goals in 15 appearances across all competitions, including two in last month’s Europa League victory over Tottenham Hotspur.
Osimhen’s loan move from Napoli followed a breakdown in his relationship with the Serie A club.
According to The Athletic, Chelsea, who are currently second in the Premier League table, will not pursue Osimhen in January, instead prioritising a long-term strategy to strengthen their attacking options.
The London club had previously made a last-minute attempt to sign the prolific striker on a season-long loan last summer, even proposing an obligation to buy. However, the move failed to materialise, and Osimhen ended up in Turkey with Galatasaray.
As reported by football.london in September, Chelsea’s initial interest demonstrated their desire to secure a reliable goalscorer.
However, with a well-stocked attack including Jadon Sancho, Pedro Neto, Noni Madueke, Joao Felix, and Christopher Nkunku, the Blues are believed to be holding off on bolstering their frontline in the short term.
Instead, Chelsea has identified Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap as a potential future signing, with the club scouting him alongside other striker options. It is suggested that any additions in the attacking department will be revisited next summer.
Meanwhile, reports suggest that Chelsea could see player exits in January to make room in their squad.
Ben Chilwell, Carney Chukwuemeka, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall are rumoured to be among those who could leave, having struggled for regular game time under manager Enzo Maresca.
Chelsea suffered a 2-1 loss to Fulham at Stamford Bridge on Boxing Day. They are set to conclude their 2024 schedule with a match against Ipswich Town on December 30.
