‘This Is Their Position’: Fabrizio Romano Clarifies Chelsea Links to Ambitious Swap Deal for 114-Goal Striker

Chelsea are aiming to finish the 2023/24 season on a high note by clinching a top-6 finish in the Premier League. But they realize the need to improve a number of areas in the squad for the upcoming campaign and they have been subject to some interesting new links for Napoli star Victor Osimhen.

Chelsea’s Swap-Deal Rumours For Victor Osimhen And Romelu Lukaku Clarified

Are Chelsea Really Eyeing a Big-Money Move For Osimhen?

The Blues were recently reported to be holding talks with the Italian club over the possibility of signing the Nigerian forward. It was also stated that Chelsea are looking to send Romelu Lukaku, currently on loan at AS Roma, to Napoli and pay them a fee to sign Osimhen in the summer.

However, Fabrizio Romano has dismissed this and claims that there have been no club-to-club talks being held between the Premier League side and the Serie A heavyweights. He adds that the Blues are not negotiating for Lukaku to be added to any player-swap deal at this moment and that “this is Chelsea’s position”, despite many within Napoli admiring the Belgian forward.

Romano adds that when it comes to the future of Lukaku, there is a verbal pact between Chelsea and him that he can leave for any club in the summer window as long as they’re ready to pay around £38 million for him.

Are Chelsea Looking At Other Strikers?

Osimhen is not the only striker that the London giants are interested in making a move for. It has already been reported that they also have an interest in possibly signing RB Leipzig forward Benjamin Sesko, who has been performing well in the Bundesliga this season.

However, in Osimhen, Mauricio Pochetitno’s side can perhaps get a more polished and all-round goal-scorer who is close to reaching his peak. The Nigerian forward has scored 114 goals in his professional career, which includes 76 for Napoli, and has bagged 17 goals in 30 appearances so far in the 2023/24 campaign.

With that being said, the Nigeria international reportedly has a huge £113 million release clause that must be met for his transfer and it remains to be seen if Chelsea are willing to make that kind of a deal.