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Chelsea is understood to be “increasing pressure” on Napoli with more frequent approaches over the potential transfer of Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen, sources have informed CaughtOffside.
Osimhen is one of Chelsea’s top targets for 2024, and the club is eager to take advantage of the complicated contract negotiations between the player and his current club, Napoli.
CaughtOffside understands Napoli is flat-out refusing to sell Osimhen in January, but Chelsea wants to do the leg-work now to ensure it’s at the front of the queue for the 24-year-old’s signature next summer.
Napoli could try to bolster its own position by agreeing to insert a release clause into any potential new contract for Osimhen, but at the moment there does not appear to have been any significant progress on all parties agreeing a new deal.
Chelsea needs to strengthen up front after the unconvincing form of youngster Nicolas Jackson, while Armando Broja has also not had much of an impact since his return from a lengthy injury layoff, so the Blues’ ever-strengthening pursuit of Osimhen certainly makes sense.
Elsewhere, Chelsea could also make Bayer Leverkusen’s Edmond Tapsoba one of their top priority targets in defence for summer 2024, sources with an understanding of the situation told CaughtOffside.
This comes as Trevoh Chalobah remains highly likely to leave Stamford Bridge in the near future, with Bayern Munich and Nottingham Forest among the clubs known to have tried signing him in the summer. Despite a deal failing to materialise back then, Chalobah is not in Mauricio Pochettino’s plans and the club is eyeing Tapsoba as one potential replacement.
CFC also has interest in Ian Maatsen, who remains on Burnley’s radar after the club almost signed him in the summer. West Ham is also understood to be preparing to take concrete steps to try signing the Dutchman.
