Chelsea handed major boost in Victor Osimhen chase: Reports

Chelsea have reportedly received a major boost in the transfer race to snap up Napoli striker Victor Osimhen in the summer transfer window.

Since the start of this summer, Osimhen has been in the headlines due to his alleged wish of leaving Napoli. The 25-year-old striker has been heavily linked with Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), and Arsenal.

However, according to French outlet L'Equipe, PSG have dropped out of the race to sign the Nigerian despite Goncalo Ramos' ankle injury.

Moreover, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta asserted that his club will not sign a striker earlier this weekend. He told talkSPORT (h/t PSG Talk):

"I have faith in [Kai Havertz], we have faith in [Gabriel Jesus]. [Leandro Trossard] has played in that position. So, we have different qualities in there and the best thing we can do is trust the players that we have and try improve them. They are so good and so willing and that's what we focus on."

As a result, Chelsea currently have a clear path ahead of them to land Osimhen's signature. However, they would only be able to rope in the forward after selling the likes of Romelu Lukaku and Raheem Sterling.

Since leaving LOSC Lille in 2020, Osimhen has found the back of the net 76 times and laid out 18 assists in 133 total appearances for Napoli.

Former Chelsea midfielder slams 23-year-old attacker, urges Blues to sign new star

Earlier on Sunday (August 18), Chelsea slumped to a 2-0 loss in their 2024-25 Premier League opener against champions Manchester City. Erling Haaland and Mateo Kovacic bagged the goals for the visitors.

Speaking on beIN SPORTS, ex-Blues star John Obi Mikel shared his two cents on his former club's recent performance. He said (h/t Metro):

"We created chances, we haven't taken them. And just an example of how [Nicolas] Jackson finishes. You can see there, even though he was offside, he dribbles past one or two or three players and the way he shot the ball! You need a striker who knows how to hit a ball back in the back of the net and that's what we don't have."

Opining more on former Villarreal striker Nicolas Jackson, Mikel added:

"I know I talk so much about him and sometimes I sound like I disrespect him. I don't disrespect him. I think, at Chelsea Football Club, we need a top striker who can get us a goal. A bit like [Haaland], 91 goals [in 100 matches for City], that's absolutely unbelievable."

Since leaving Villarreal for £32 million last July, Jackson has recorded 17 goals and six assists in 45 games across all competitions for his club.