Chelsea is anticipated to invest heavily in a forward during the summer transfer window, but it might not be Victor Osimhen from Napoli.
Despite managing a team already known for its high value, Mauricio Pochettino has openly stated his belief in Chelsea’s need for significant investments during the summer transfer window.
He has called for reinforcements across all positions, with the sale of some players expected to help finance these new signings.
Securing a forward is a critical goal for Stamford Bridge, as the club aims to introduce competition for Nicolas Jackson in the No. 9 role, especially since the 22-year-old has recently shown promise playing on the wing.
Chelsea’s main target for the striker position has been Victor Osimhen of Napoli, who has attracted attention from Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain as well. The Nigerian forward has contributed 11 goals and three assists in 17 league games for Napoli this season.
Yet, Osimhen is not the sole focus of Chelsea’s interest in Serie A strikers. Reports from HITC suggest that Lautaro Martinez of Inter Milan is also being considered for the summer transfer window.
While Osimhen is Chelsea’s primary target, Martinez is viewed as a viable alternative to the former Lille player. However, it would require a substantial bid to persuade Inter Milan to part with their captain, who is expected to reject offers to leave after the season.
A bid around £80 million for Martinez might cause Inter Milan to reconsider, a figure Chelsea is reportedly prepared to meet in their pursuit of a top-tier striker this summer. Such a move would likely receive praise from Lionel Messi, who has frequently lauded his international teammate.
Messi has previously praised Martinez, saying, “He’s spectacular. He has impressive qualities. You could tell he was going to be a great player and he is showing that. He’s very strong, really good one-on-one, scores a lot of goals and in the area, he fights with anyone, holds it up, he can turn, scrap to win it all on his own. He has a lot of quality. He’s very complete.”
