Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca responded on Sunday, after the draw against Crystal Palace, to the failed deal with Napoli and striker Victor Osimhen. The Nigerian was high on the Blues' wish list.
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The 25-year-old Victor Osimhen has been looking to leave Napoli for quite some time now, and Chelsea seemed ready to bring him to Stamford Bridge.
The Nigerian striker, known for his powerful presence and impressive goal-scoring record, has been a key target for several top European clubs, but Chelsea appeared to be the frontrunners. The transfer seemed increasingly likely after Romelu Lukaku moved in the opposite direction, from London to Naples, on a loan deal. This swap hinted at a potential deal involving Osimhen, which seemed like it was only a matter of time. However, despite the seemingly perfect alignment, Chelsea failed to secure Osimhen’s signing before the transfer deadline in England, leaving fans and pundits speculating about what went wrong.
During a press conference following Chelsea’s draw against Crystal Palace, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca addressed the failed transfer. "Of course, we want to bring in new players, but only on our terms. So, if we’re talking about players who are not here, it means we couldn’t agree on the terms," Maresca explained. His statement suggested that while Chelsea was interested in Osimhen, they were not willing to compromise on their financial and contractual conditions to make the deal happen.
Salaries
Reports from Italian media have shed some light on the crux of the issue: a disagreement over salaries. Victor Osimhen, a Nigerian international, reportedly earns around ten million euros per year at Napoli, a figure that reflects his status as one of the club's most valuable players. Chelsea, on the other hand, is said to have offered Osimhen a base salary of four million euros per year. This offer could have been boosted by performance-related bonuses to potentially reach a total of eight million euros per year. Despite the bonus incentives, the offer from Chelsea was still significantly lower than what Osimhen was currently earning at Napoli, leading to a breakdown in negotiations.
This salary dispute seems to be the main reason the deal fell through, as neither side was willing to budge on their financial expectations. The failure to reach an agreement on wages highlights the often-complicated nature of high-profile transfers, where not just the transfer fee but also player wages and contract conditions play a critical role in finalizing deals.
Despite this setback, Maresca did not close the door on the possibility of revisiting the deal in the future. He suggested that Chelsea might make another attempt to sign Osimhen in the next transfer window, potentially in January. Osimhen, who is under contract with Napoli until mid-2026, currently finds himself in a difficult position. The striker has reportedly been excluded from the squad by Napoli’s coach Antonio Conte, which has further fueled speculation about his future at the club.
"I don't know what we are going to do in January. There are many matches to go until then. We will see," said Maresca, indicating that Chelsea remains open to strengthening their squad but will carefully consider their options based on the team's needs and Osimhen's situation as the season progresses. For now, the saga around Osimhen's future remains unresolved, with both Chelsea and the player potentially eyeing a renewed effort to make the transfer happen in the next window.
Updated: 11:32, 2 Sep 2024
