Victor Osimhen's agent sends clear transfer message amid Chelsea and Saudi Arabia links

Reported Chelsea target Victor Osimhen’s agent has set the record straight with the summer transfer window deadline fast-approaching. The Napoli striker is expected to move on before Friday night’s deadline, but the clock is ticking, and with every passing day a deal gets less likely.

While a deal can happen at any time, that is not the case for a deal that will cost any buying club more than £80million, with deals of this size typically taking time. Chelsea have been heavily linked with a move for the Nigeria international, with Arsenal not likely to be able to afford a deal in any capacity due to Profit and Sustainability rules.

In truth, Chelsea might have the same problem, but they have been tipped to push for a loan deal in the back-end of the window. Osimhen is not said to be keen on a loan move, but with the deadline now so close, the Blues will be hoping the striker changes his mind when faced with a possible choice of either leaving on loan or staying in Naples.

Buyers appear to be few and far between with very few able to pay over £80million this summer, with Real Madrid having got their man in Kylian Mbappe, while Barcelona are still short of cash and Atletico Madrid have spent £82million on Julian Alvarez. Bayern Munich already have Harry Kane, and none of the Italian clubs can afford a deal. The rest of the Premier League are seemingly tied up by financial rules, with the exceptions being Manchester City, who are not going to sign another striker and Liverpool, who are extremely unlikely to sign such an expensive player this summer.

Osimhen’s agent sets the record straight

Outside of Europe, the Mirror say Saudi Arabian club Al-Ahli are pushing for a deal, but Osimhen’s agent Roberto Calenda has made it clear his superstar frontman will not be heading out of Europe at this stage of his career, still only 25, and he also pointed out that a stay is not out of the question.

"Osimhen is a Napoli player, with a contract recently renewed with mutual satisfaction,” Calenda said. “He made history and when there were major offers we always accepted the club's decisions. As I said, it is not a package to be shipped far away to make room for new prophets. Victor was elected African footballer of the year, eighth at the Ballon d'Or, he still has so much to do in Europe. There is need respect and balance."

Napoli are set to sign Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku this summer, with the Belgian tipped as an Osimhen replacement, but the two frontmen could both end up at the club after Friday’s deadline as things stand.