The Lukaku Saga Ends, Osimhen's Future Uncertain

Chelsea are growing in optimism that a deal to sell Romelu Lukaku to Napoli can be agreed this weekend. Napoli director Giovanni Manna is in London to reach an agreement for the Belgium international, who joined Chelsea for £97.5million in 2021.

Chelsea want a permanent sale having put a £37.8m clause in his contract before he joined Roma on loan last year. Napoli have already had lower bids rejected, but the two clubs are holding positive talks and a compromise is close to being reached. The Serie A club are showing more willingness to get closer to Chelsea’s asking price and the conversation has now turned to how Napoli will pay it in installments rather than the whole sum in full.

Lukaku has been training with a group of other unwanted players at Cobham away from the senior squad while his future is being resolved. The 31-year-old scored just 15 goals in 44 appearances for Chelsea in 2021-22, but has been on loan at Inter Milan and Roma in the two seasons since. He has no interest in playing for Chelsea again and the club are keen to get him off the payroll for good.

Lukaku's Departure Opens the Door for Osimhen

Victor Osimhen’s long-rumoured move to Chelsea appears to be gaining momentum following Romelu Lukaku’s confirmed transfer to Napoli, Soccernet.ng reports. The lengthy transfer saga between the English Premier League side and Napoli seems to be nearing its conclusion, as transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reports that the London club has finally accepted Napoli’s €30 million offer for Lukaku, clearing the way for the Nigerian star to potentially join the Blues.

With the Belgian forward now undergoing a medical examination ahead of his move to the Serie A side, Chelsea’s path to making a serious bid for the Super Eagles attacker, who has been a standout performer in Italy, looks more promising. The London-based club had previously explored the possibility of signing the Nigerian international, but financial fair play regulations posed a challenge. The departure of the former Inter Milan forward, however, frees up significant salary space, making it feasible for Chelsea to accommodate Osimhen’s wages.

While it remains unclear if Chelsea can meet Napoli’s asking price, Lukaku’s exit has made it more likely that Osimhen’s time at the Diego Maradona Stadium is limited. As the summer transfer window nears its end, Nigerian football fans and the global football community eagerly await the outcome of this potential blockbuster deal.

A Look at Lukaku's Time at Chelsea

Romelu Lukaku's second stint at Chelsea is finally at an end. Fabrizio Romano reports the Belgium striker is set to join Napoli in a move worth up to €45 million. Lukaku, 31, rejoined Chelsea from Inter in the summer of 2021 for a then-club record £97.5 million fee. The Antwerp native would go on to appear in 26 Premier League games for the team before being loaned back to the Nerazzurri in 2022-2023. Lukaku spent last season on loan at Roma where he scored 13 goals in 32 Serie A contests.

In 243 Premier League games over nine seasons with Chelsea, Manchester United, Everton and West Brom, Lukaku notched 106 goals. Internationally, Lukaku has been capped 119 times by the Red Devils and is Belgium's all-time top goal scorer with 85. 

Napoli's Pursuit of Lukaku

Talks between Napoli and Chelsea for Romelu Lukaku will continue today, and according to Tuttosport, the Partenopei will send an updated offer for the Belgian striker. Napoli still haven’t reached an agreement for Chelsea striker Lukaku during the latest round of talks on Thursday, but negotiations between the two clubs will resume today. According to Il Corriere dello Sport, Napoli director Manna has remained in London and will meet Chelsea directors again today.

The report claims that Napoli is open to discussing a permanent transfer but still haven’t matched Chelsea’s asking price. Both CorSport and Tuttosport say that the Blues will accept a fee below Lukaku’s €43m clause, although they still expect an offer close to €40m. On the other hand, according to Tuttosport, Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis has allowed Giovanni Manna to raise the offer from €30m to €32m so the two clubs are not guaranteed to shake hands anytime soon.

Osimhen's Next Move

While Osimhen's future remains uncertain, Lukaku's departure from Chelsea has opened up a possibility for the Nigerian striker to move to Stamford Bridge. However, it remains to be seen if Chelsea can meet Napoli's asking price for the highly sought-after forward. The transfer window is nearing its closure, and fans eagerly await the outcome of these potential deals.

A New Chapter for Lukaku and Osimhen

The transfer saga surrounding Lukaku and Osimhen has captivated the football world. With Lukaku's move to Napoli seemingly finalized, all eyes are on Osimhen and his next destination. Will he be joining Lukaku in Serie A, or will he move to Chelsea, marking a new chapter in his career? Only time will tell.