Victor Osimhen gets fresh Chelsea backing after Nicolas Jackson’s Aston Villa exit

Victor Osimhen has received fresh backing to join Chelsea after Nicolas Jackson completed his £65 million move to Aston Villa, Soccernet.ng reports.

The transfer has changed Chelsea's striker options and could reopen the debate about whether the Blues should make another move for the Manchester United-linked Nigeria international before the summer transfer window closes.

Chelsea confirmed Jackson's permanent transfer to Villa on Saturday. The 25-year-old joined the Blues from Villarreal in 2023 and scored 30 goals in 81 appearances. He was also part of the Chelsea teams that won the UEFA Conference League and FIFA Club World Cup.

The move came after Jackson spent the 2025/26 season on loan at Bayern Munich, where he scored 11 goals and helped the German club win the Bundesliga and German Cup.

Chelsea also lost Liam Delap to Nottingham Forest this summer. Joao Pedro is now the club's No.9 after scoring 20 goals in all competitions last season, while Danny Welbeck provides another option in attack.

That situation has led former Chelsea captain and France World Cup winner Marcel Desailly to call for Osimhen, who is no longer close to joining Arsenal.

Why Desailly wants Osimhen at Chelsea

Desailly believes Chelsea need a traditional centre-forward who can lead the attack, occupy central defenders and provide a regular goal threat.

Asked who Chelsea should sign, Desailly was direct.

“Osimhen, absolutely. He brings spirit and respect, strong respect from opponents and from his teammates,” the former Chelsea centre-back told Metro.

The former France international also believes Osimhen's personality could make him an ideal fit for the Premier League, adding,

“He can be a bit unpredictable sometimes, but you need that kind of player who can justify his stature and his behaviour through performance.”

Desailly also made his preference clear after Jackson's departure.

“As for Jackson, he’s gone to Aston Villa now. Honestly, I would have brought in a proper number-nine type striker,” he added.

Osimhen fits that profile. The 27-year-old offers more than goals. His movement gives defenders a difficult problem because he can attack space behind the back line or compete for crosses inside the box. His pace can also help Chelsea press from the front, while his physical strength gives the team an outlet when opponents push high.

His current form makes the argument stronger. Osimhen has scored five goals and provided two assists in his first three Süper Lig appearances for Galatasaray this season. He scored and supplied the winning assist in Saturday's 3-2 victory over Göztepe at RAMS Park.

Chelsea came close to signing Osimhen when he was at Napoli two years ago. That deal collapsed late in the process. He later joined Galatasaray, where he has continued to produce at the highest level.