Chelsea and Napoli are working to find an agreement over the transfer of Romelu Lukaku in a deal that could finally open the door for the Premier League club to make a move for Victor Osimhen.
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has said the club will attempt to sign a “nine” before the end of the summer transfer window.
“If we have the chance to bring in a nine that can help us and make the difference, then we are going to try,” Maresca said.
Osimhen’s future has been the subject of continued speculation for months, with the 25-year-old now in the final two years of his contract at Napoli.
Osimhen has scored 48 goals in all competitions in his last two campaigns at Napoli, and is widely regarded as one of the leading strikers in world football.
In the 2022/23 season, the 25-year-old played a key role in Napoli winning their first Serie A title in 33 years.
Talks over Lukaku are ongoing, with all parties working hard to find a solution for a player who is not part of Maresca’s plans at Stamford Bridge.
Lukaku has spent the last two seasons on loan in Italy, at Inter Milan and Roma, and has not been training with Chelsea’s first-team squad this summer.
Earlier this summer, Chelsea attempted to sign another powerful centre-forward in Atletico Madrid’s Samu Omorodion, before the proposed deal collapsed.
Chelsea instead signed Atletico’s Joao Felix, who can operate as a striker but has spent most of his career as an attacking midfielder or wide player.
Maresca has said Felix will be physically ready to play against Wolves in the Premier League on Sunday.
“In terms of knowing the way we want to play? Probably not yet,” said Maresca. “In terms of physicality?
“I think he is ready because he was already playing games there (at Atletico Madrid).
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“He needs more time to understand the way we want to play but overall I think he can play.
“For me, he can do that (No 9 role) fantastically, dropping in and giving us an extra man when we need more passes, more possession.
“Then, to find the right moment to attack, he can do that very well.
“He can play as an attacking midfielder, if we need.
“He can play also outside.
“He can play in different positions.”
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