Chelsea can seal £175m transfer windfall amid Victor Osimhen and Nico Williams chase
Chelsea have already taken their rightful spot as English football’s dominant force in the transfer market this summer, having secured five arrivals with two more lined up ahead of new manager Enzo Maresca’s first season in charge. The Italian has seen his defensive line bolstered almost immediately as he walked through the doors at Stamford Bridge with Tosin Adarabioyo, hoping to fill the void left by the legendary Thiago Silva’s departure in May , after he joined on a free from Fulham after the expiration of his contract.
Next, it was Omari Kellyman, the talented Aston Villa youngster joining for £19million alongside Barcelona starlet Marc Guiu – the pair set to provide fresh legs, and hopefully goals, off the bench under Maresca this season if he chooses to keep them in west London. Their fourth signing of the window saw a major reunion between Maresca and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall go through for £30m , and having arguably his centrepiece in the Leicester City Championship-winning squad from last season starting at his new club early doors will be aa big benefit to that transition period away from his boyhood club.
Finally, full-back Renato Veiga’s £12m arrival earlier this month signified a potential change in that position with Maresca’s arrival . USMNT youngster Caleb Wiley and Boca Juniors star Aaron Anselmino are also lined up to arrive at the Blues but there’s been two things lacking in their preparation for the 2024/25 campaign so far – a centre forward and a big money move. But because it’s Chelsea, they can kill those two birds with one stone.
Napoli striker Victor Osimhen has been a target for the head honchos at Stamford Bridge for a number of windows now, and reports yesterday claimed that the Blues are set to go back in for the Nigeria international this summer in what could be a mega move for what is said to be Napoli’s asking price of close to €100 million (£84m).
With the 25-year-old’s contract at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona expiring in June 2026, now could be the perfect time to swoop in for a player whose 15 goals and three assists in a shortened 25- match season, both due to a hamstring issue and international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations, were an off- period for him.
The star’s explosive pace, fantastic poacher instinct and impressive unselfishness around counter-attacks combined with his ability to hold up the ball and work shooting opportunities when most others can’t make him a priority target for those at Stamford Bridge this summer to really strengthen the attacking threat that the Blues failed to consistently make teams worry about last season.
While Nicolas Jackson’s start to life at Chelsea was tough, he gradually built himself up through the campaign, eventually finishing on 17 goals in his debut season, a number that shouldn’t be scoffed at. Despite that though, there was a distinct lack of goals from anyone else in the forward department, save for superstar Cole Palmer whose 25 goals and 15 assists in all competitions dragged the Blues back into European football under Mauricio Pochettino.
It means Osimhen would no doubt be a welcome addition to Maresca’s group at SW6 but there remains another question at hand; why get just one marquee signing when you can have two? After all, that seems to have been the ethos at Chelsea when it comes to the transfer market over the two years that Todd Boehly has lead the consortium in charge and it would be typical of the Blues to be the ones to come out on top in the race for both Osimhen as well as Spain international Nico Williams this summer.
The 22-year-old has almost the whole of Europe in the palm of his hand after his dazzling displays at the 2024 European Championships over the summer saw him stun the competition, including England in the final, with his mazy runs, electric quickness and smart finishing ability. Now he seems set on an exit away from Athletic Bilbao and west London could be an enticing destination for him.
It’s already been claimed that Williams is a ‘dream’ signing for the Blues this summer and that they’ve done a lot to lay the groundwork over a lengthy period of time but it still remains to be seen whether they can sort a deal for the star, who has a €58 million (£49m) release clause in his current deal in Spain.
But can the club actually afford to go after both? The Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSRs) is something that the Blues have been keen to avoid breaking over the past few seasons, especially with their seemingly infinite amount to spend with and how they’ve already seen the effect points deductions can have on clubs after three were handed out between Premier League rivals Everton and Nottingham Forest last season.
But they do have a myriad of stars to sell for a good amount of profit – a strategy that Boehly and co. at the top have put to great effect so far during their time at the club. Past sales of Mason Mount and Kai Havertz, for example, have gone on to net them solid profits which can then be put straight into the war chest for times like this – when they need to make a splash and make it a big one.
To start with, the sale of out-of-favour frontman Romelu Lukaku for £38m is another priority for the Blues who don’t want to send him out for a third season in a row on loan to Italy and would instead prefer a permanent exit for the Belgian. His £97.5m move from Inter Milan three years ago looks like a complete joke now but with interest from Napoli, it’s possible he could be used in a player plus cash deal for Osimhen in the near future. Kepa Arrizabalaga is another name that’ll be soon crossed off the list as a move to the Saudi Pro League looks increasingly likely.
Al-Ittihad are believed to be the team involved with negotiating for the Spanish goalkeeper, who spent last season out on loan at Real Madrid, but had their initial offer turned down. Chelsea’s asking price this time last season was around £22m , meaning he could generate a similar amount. One transfer that has seemingly been on the precipice of happening for the past two years now could be midfielder Conor Gallagher’s departure, either to bitter rivals Tottenham or elsewhere .
Chelsea value the England international at £50m, all of which would be ‘pure profit’ for the academy graduate, but they still have the chance to tie him down to a new contract if they choose to, given he still has a year left to begin talks. Trevoh Chalobah could be another ‘pure profit’ departure this season, despite the defender reportedly not wanting to leave Stamford Bridge. Having been with the club since the age of eight, the 25-year-old managed to work his way back into the starting XI last season under Pochettino but has always been on the chopping block with links to a £25m move out to Germany .
Elsewhere, seemingly forgotten defender Malang Sarr could get the club around £5m if they offload him this summer. Two more attacking numbers could go as well, with Armando Broja potentially set for a £20m move to Everton, although talks aren’t advanced at this stage. His departure could also pave the way for David Datro Fofana’s own exit , with the Ivory Coast star valued at £15m following his loan with Burnley over the second half of the last campaign.
If those players are sold, the money generated could mean Chelsea are able to easily complete deals for both Osimhen and Williams, strengthening their squad massively in the hopes they can go a few steps better over the next 12 months and secure Champions League football for the first time in two seasons.
