Victor Osimhen reveals his striker idol
Napoli striker Victor Osimhen has revealed that a Chelsea legend is his idol, with the Blues among the clubs keen on the Nigerian this coming summer.
Osimhen has racked up 23 goals in 28 appearances in all competitions this season, including three of the five Napoli scored over two legs against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League.
Already nailed on favourites to win a first Serie A title since 1990 and the days of Diego Maradona thanks to their 18-point lead, Napoli are increasingly fancied in the Champions League as well.
Osimhen will be vital to that should they go all the way in Europe.
The former Lille forward has identified Didier Drogba as the player he looked up to when growing up, telling Sport1 in Germany this week.
“Didier Drogba is my idol. I loved watching him play as a kid. I always wanted to be like him. I'm glad I'm now succeeding in a competition [the Champions League] that he put his stamp on so much,” he said.
90min understands that Chelsea have made Osimhen their top target ahead of the 2023 summer transfer window. Despite spending £600m on new players since last year’s takeover, the Blues lack a genuine goalscorer in the mould of Erling Haaland or Harry Kane.
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Chelsea have not been scared off by a potential price tag of €150m. They could attempt to negotiate a lower fee by offering players in exchange, including Romelu Lukaku if he does not continue at Inter beyond this season’s loan at San Siro.
Napoli are confident of tying both Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Kim Min-jae to new contracts, but Osimhen is perhaps the most likely of the trio to be sold. He is yet to make a decision about his future but is openly hoping to find a ‘good solution’.
“I don't know what the future holds,” the player told Sport1. “I think I'm on the right track. At the end of the season, I will sit down with my agents and discuss everything. I will also be in talks with the club. I am incredibly grateful to Naples. We will find a good solution together.”
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On this edition of Talking Transfers, part of the 90min podcast network, Scott Saunders, Graeme Bailey & Toby Cudworth discuss Harry Kane's future at Tottenham Hotspur, Joao Felix potentially joining Chelsea on a permanent basis, David Raya, Marco Asensio, Alexis Mac Allister & more! If you can't see this embed, click here to listen to the podcast!