Lukaku to Napoli 

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Victor Osimhen has been a long-term target for Chelsea and it appears that a deal for the Nigerian international to move to Stamford Bridge could materialise this summer. The Athletic reported on July 30th that Napoli and Chelsea are locked in discussions over Osimhen with Romelu Lukaku moving in the opposite direction.

However, any deal involving Osimhen and Lukaku wouldn’t be a direct trade. It’s understood that Lukaku would move to Naples on a permanent deal, while Osimhen would arrive in London on an initial loan deal with a buy-option. Both strikers have enjoyed great success in Serie A and with their contracts expiring in 2026 could this be a deal that suits all parties? We’ve analysed Osimhen’s future with expert insight from Italy. 

Napoli: Victor Osimhen departure and Romelu Lukaku arrival? 

Osimhen is destined to depart Napoli this summer despite agreeing a new deal last December. The 25-year-old wanted to leave last summer but he penned a one-year extension until 2026. This allowed Napoli to protect his value while an understanding was reached between club and Osimhen to allow him to seek a new challenge this summer. PSG have been strongly linked with the striker, while Arsenal are also known admirers, but Chelsea are frontrunners to sign him. 

Any deal taking Osimhen to Stamford Bridge will likely hinge on the clubs reaching an agreement for Chelsea to sign him permanently next summer. Lukaku has been earmarked as Osimhen’s replacement in Naples with Antonio Conte eyeing a reunion with the Belgian international. Lukaku enjoyed the two most productive seasons of his career under Conte at Inter Milan, scoring 64 goals across two seasons under the Italian. Both players have spent four seasons in Serie A with Osimhen enjoying the better scoring record of 0.72 goals per 90 minutes compared to Lukaku (0.62).

What will Victor Osimhen bring to Chelsea? 

Chelsea currently have six strikers in their senior squad in Lukaku, Marc Guiu, Nicolas Jackson, David Fofana, Deivid Washington and Armando Broja. Only Jackson, however, is expected to be part of the first-team squad next season with Guiu – recently signed from Barcelona – expected to go on loan with Lukaku, Fofana and Broja available for sale. Despite erratic performances, Jackson showed promise during his debut season at Chelsea and finished with an impressive 23 goal contributions in 44 games. Osimhen, however, would represent an upgrade on Jackson and Transfermarkt’s Serie A expert Stefano Buonfino believes the Napoli striker could take the Premier League by storm. 

“He’s not a technical player but he’s tall, powerful, very fast and excellent in the air,” Buonfino said. “He always presses opposition defences into making mistakes. If he acclimatises quickly then he will be one of the best strikers in Premier League as he possesses the physical skills to do very well. Most of the doubts over Osimhen are over his technical ability and injuries.”

Victor Osimhen’s injury record examined

Chelsea’s terrible injury record last season was well documented and Osimhen’s history with missing games will be a cause for concern. The striker has missed 67 games for Napoli across the last four seasons after being fully fit in his last campaign for Lille. Osimhen hasn’t suffered one serious long-term injury but he’s picked up smaller complaints that have slightly plagued his time in Naples – as the graphic below indicates.

“Injuries were a major problem in Serie A,” Buonfino added. “Every year, he missed lots of games because of injuries and muscular issues. The club that decides to sign him will need to have a reliable back-up in their squad as he’s susceptible to missing games through injury.” Osimhen would represent a marquee signing for Chelsea as they embrace a new era under Enzo Maresca and he possesses the characteristics to be a huge success in England. While his injury record is a slight concern, Osimhen would be Cheslea’s figurehead with Jackson providing a good back-up option should the Nigerian be sidelined.