Former Chelsea star Pat Nevin believes Mauricio Pochettino might need to sacrifice Mykhailo Mudryk if they are to sign Victor Osimhen. The Blues desperately need a new striker, with the Napoli star strongly linked.
Current striker Nicolas Jackson has struggled for consistency since his £30 million move from Villarreal in the summer. Chelsea have reportedly eyed £100 million-rated Nigerian striker Osimhen for some time. The 24-year-old struck 26 goals last season to help Napoli win their first Scudetto in three decades. However, Chelsea’s recent spending means they might need to recoup funds before they add another big-money signing to their ranks.
Osimhen could be the answer to the problems at Chelsea
Pat Nevin said: “Strikers are always top-dollar, and Chelsea have already spent a fortune on players who weren’t always worth the fee. They’ll have to spend even more to get a top-quality striker in. I thought Victor Osimhen was the man a few years ago, and I still think he is. I’d imagine he’s the one Chelsea will go for.”
Since Todd Boehly took over the club in 2022, Chelsea have focused on signing young players only. They may’ve aimed to build a squad for the future, but that isn’t helping their present. They currently find themselves 12th in the Premier League after spending over a billion on transfers.
Chelsea desperately need a striker, and Osimhen fits their bill as he’ll still be in his prime 5-6 years from now. However, unlike Chelsea’s other signings, the Nigerian is already a world-class player.
“It’s just business”
Nevin further emphasized that Chelsea might have to let someone go if they want to bring in Osimhen.
“Chelsea have cashed in on Mason Mount, Mateo Kovacic, and others before, and they can do it again. It’s just business. It may not be for the fans, but it certainly is for the owners. A lot of teams would be interested in Mudryk! I’m not saying Chelsea should get rid of him, but Chelsea will have to sell someone if they want to get a striker as good as Osimhen in the door.
“I didn’t like seeing Mason Mount go, and I’m sure the club didn’t either, but that sale made financial sense. I’m sure similar calculations will be going on.”
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