Chelsea have major transfer momentum as striker’s top target Victor Osimhen formally requests to leave Napoli

CHELSEA received a major transfer boost when Napoli star Victor Osimhen asked to leave the club.

Osimhen, 25, has been the Blues’ main target after a series of impressive performances in Naples which saw him lead the Partenopei to a rare Serie A title a year ago.

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The playmaker has racked up an impressive 76 goals and 18 assists in 133 matches since arriving at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium in 2020 from Lille and has won over legions of fans.

However, Napoli sporting director Giovanni Manna has revealed that the Nigeria international is formally pushing for his exit.

West Londoners continue to monitor Osimhen, whose condition could improve over the next three weeks.

Manna said: “Victor Osimhen asked to leave the club. He wants to go.

“The situation is clear, there were already chances of him leaving last summer… Victor wants to leave. We will see in the next 20 days.”

Chelsea are rigorously on the lookout for a new centre-forward following an inconsistent debut season from Nicolas Jackson last season.

Coach Enzo Maresca relied heavily on 18-year-old Marc Guiu during the summer pre-season and the young Spaniard was not convinced he deserved a place in the starting line-up.

Osimhen remains a key target, although the Premier League giants are on the verge of completing a deal for Atletico Madrid ace Samu Omorodion.

Conor Gallagher’s move to Atlético paved the way for Omorodion to move to Stamford Bridge.

And if Chelsea manage to sign Osimhen, it could lead to another swap deal.

Napoli want to sign Romelu Lukaku if they lose the Nigerian in the opposite direction.

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