Football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has stated unequivocally that Victor Osimhen will not accept a pay cut to join Chelsea, according to The PUNCH.
Romano suggested that Chelsea’s pursuit of the Napoli striker might stretch until the final week of the transfer window. With less than two weeks until the new Premier League season kicks off, Chelsea is urgently seeking a striker who can guarantee goals. While they are reportedly close to signing Atletico Madrid’s Samu Omorodion, Osimhen remains a top target for the 2024/25 campaign.
The Nigeria international, one of Europe’s most sought-after strikers, has been linked with Chelsea, Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United, and Liverpool. However, his substantial €130 million release clause has deterred many potential buyers, with PSG being the only club still showing strong interest.
There has been speculation about a possible swap deal involving Romelu Lukaku, as Chelsea is unlikely to meet the £113 million release clause in Osimhen’s Napoli contract. Currently, Osimhen is Serie A’s highest earner, making around £325,000 a week. Despite signing a new contract with Napoli late last year, he is expected to leave the club before the transfer window closes.
Romano emphasized that Osimhen will not lower his salary for a move to Stamford Bridge. “Forget about Victor Osimhen taking a pay cut; he won’t reduce his salary. This will be a deal I think will go down to the final week of the window,” Romano was quoted saying by Football Transfers.
Osimhen joined Napoli from Lille in the summer of 2020 for a club-record fee of €70 million, with an additional €10 million in bonuses. The 25-year-old has been in exceptional form over the past two seasons, leading Napoli to their first Scudetto in over three decades in the 2022/23 season, where he scored 26 league goals and won the top scorer award.
