Former Chelsea star John Obi Mikel has claimed that Napoli striker Victor Osimhen wants to sign for the Blues this summer.
Mikel, who briefly played alongside Osimhen for Nigeria, is privately urging the 25-year-old to make the move to Stamford Bridge, as he's expected to leave Napoli in the summer. Osimhen only signed a new deal with the Italian champions in December but club president Aurelio de Laurentiis has already admitted that his star could be bound for a Premier League move, lending credence to reports that he has a release clause worth around £110million in that new contract.
Speaking at the Qatar Web Summit, Mikel made the claim that Osimhen "loves" Chelsea and also believes there's "genuine interest" between the two parties ahead of the summer transfer window. "I think he loves the club, he wants to come to the club," the ex-Blues midfielder explained.
"Obviously, he wants to follow my footsteps as a Nigerian player who has played for Chelsea - Victor Moses, Celestine Babayaro, not a lot of us." Mikel then went on to joke: "I'm still Osimhen's agent, trying to get him to Chelsea! I've got 20 per cent of that deal, so I hope it works out!"
After scoring five goals in his last three games since returning to Naples after a heartbreaking Africa Cup of Nations final defeat with Nigeria, Osimhen will have plenty of suitors come June. Mikel, 36, is well aware of the potential tug-of-war but says he's "pushing" to get the former Lille, Wolfsburg and Charleroi hotshot to Chelsea.
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"London as well, fantastic city, instead of going to Liverpool or places like that you want to live in London," Mikel added. "But he also has a lot of interest. Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United.
"I'm still pushing, sending him messages, trying to make sure he doesn't expect to much, narrow his mind on one club - the Blues. I am pushing him. I hope he comes to the club.
"I think one thing we lack, I think everyone who watch the [Carabao Cup] final on Sunday will see that one thing we are lacking is scoring goals. We need that striker who will score goals. That's what Victor will give you. He's not the most skilful guy, but goals are definitely guaranteed.
Your turn! Should Victor Osimhen sign for Chelsea? Give us your verdict in the comments section.
John Obi Mikel is "pushing" Victor Osimhen to Chelsea (Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile for Web Summit Qatar via Getty Images)"If he could get us 20 plus a season, 25, who knows, that's what Erling Haaland does, that's why he's one of the best, he's not really there for link-ups and all that, get the ball in the box and he will finish. That's something Victor will definitely give us."
Osimhen has gone on record to state that he already knows his next move, with Napoli's title defence having turned into disaster and the Serie A giants now on their third manager of the season. "A rumour is going around about me linked with the Premier League,' the Nigeria international, who scored a hat-trick in Napoli's 6-1 victory over Sassuolo on Wednesday, told CBS Sports.
"When you are one of the hottest strikers in the globe, you expect this kind of thing. Of course, EPL is one of the biggest and best leagues in the whole world. At Napoli, I just signed a new contract, I enjoy my time there, going through it with the team, and at the end of the season... I already made up my mind.
"I know what I want to do with my career. Since I've started I've been the one taking my own decisions and everything's working out for me, even though when I started, it didn't go as well as planned, but I already had my plan. I already knew the next step I want to take."
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