Chelsea and Napoli: Victor Osimhen-Romelu Lukaku swap deal not on the table – report

Reports suggesting a potential swap deal between Chelsea and Napoli involving Victor Osimhen and Romelu Lukaku have been dismissed, as reported by Soccernet.ng.

Earlier rumours had circulated that Chelsea was considering offering Napoli the Belgian international plus another young player and €90 million in exchange for the Super Eagles striker.

However, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has debunked any ongoing negotiations, putting an end to the speculation surrounding the two goal poachers.

Osimhen has been a standout performer for Napoli since joining the club four years ago, amassing an impressive record of 76 goals and 18 assists in 131 appearances for the Naples-based club during his tenure.

While Osimhen’s stellar performances have attracted interest from top clubs across Europe, including Chelsea, Arsenal, and Paris Saint-Germain, Napoli is reportedly holding out for a significant fee before considering any potential transfer.

Furthermore, recent claims made by Gianluca Di Marzio suggesting that Chelsea had initiated negotiations with Napoli for a swap deal involving Osimhen and Lukaku were promptly debunked by Romano.

He clarified that Chelsea has not commenced negotiations for Osimhen and is not directly negotiating with Napoli for Lukaku’s inclusion in any potential deal.

While acknowledging Chelsea’s appreciation for Osimhen, Romano stated that the club is exploring various striker options, with PSG also expressing interest in the Nigerian forward.

As of now, Chelsea has yet to finalize their decision on acquiring a new striker, and Romano mentioned Benjamin Sesko of RB Leipzig as another player on their radar.