Chelsea’s interest in signing Victor Osimhen could be a positive development for Arsenal, particularly in their pursuit of Ivan Toney.
Chelsea are reportedly preparing to make Osimhen their top target for a striker, potentially needing to surpass their own Premier League record fee, which was £106.8 million for Enzo Fernandez.
Mauricio Pochettino, Chelsea’s manager, is keen to strengthen his squad with a new centre-forward.
Osimhen, who has had a successful tenure at Napoli, including helping them win the Scudetto, is high on Chelsea’s agenda.
The Nigerian international’s expected transfer fee is over £100 million, which could set a new Premier League record.
Despite the potential complexities of a deal in January, Pochettino reportedly views the striker position as a long-term necessity for Chelsea.
Chelsea’s link to Osimhen is partly through Kalidou Koulibaly, a former teammate at Napoli, who still maintains connections at Chelsea. Osimhen’s relationship with Napoli has been strained this season, with his representatives even threatening legal action over a club TikTok video.
He is reportedly open to considering a move to Chelsea.
Chelsea already signed Nicolas Jackson from Villarreal in the summer, and with Christopher Nkunku set to return from injury and Armando Broja adding depth, Chelsea’s focus on Osimhen could shift their attention away from other potential targets.
This situation might work in Arsenal‘s favour, as they have also been linked with a move for Brentford‘s Ivan Toney.
Toney’s interest in joining Arsenal, combined with Chelsea’s pursuit of Osimhen, could potentially clear the path for Arsenal to secure Toney.
This scenario would be ideal for Arsenal, allowing them to acquire a desired target without facing competition from Chelsea.