Former Chelsea winger Florent Malouda has strongly endorsed Napoli striker Victor Osimhen as an “excellent signing” for his former club, emphasizing the Nigerian’s potential to transform Chelsea’s attack and mentor underperforming forward Nicolas Jackson. In an exclusive interview with Racing Tipster on May 8, 2025, Malouda said, “The [Osimhen] links with Chelsea are strong. We’ve had brilliant African footballers in the past, and Osimhen can be the next generation of African players at Chelsea. I would love to see him join the club. I think he would be an excellent signing. I also think he would help someone like Nicolas Jackson improve.” Malouda’s comments, reported by Sportskeeda and Goal.com, come as Chelsea, under Enzo Maresca, seek a reliable goalscorer after Jackson’s inconsistent season, with 12 goals in 32 appearances but frequent missed chances.
Osimhen, 26, was a prime target for Chelsea last summer, but negotiations collapsed over his €500,000 weekly wage demands, leading to a loan move to Galatasaray, where he has scored an impressive 33 goals in 37 appearances, per football.london. Despite interest from Manchester United, Arsenal, and a potential permanent Galatasaray deal, Chelsea remain in the race, with former Blue John Obi Mikel claiming on April 27, 2025, that Osimhen “wants to play for Chelsea” and that prior contract talks make a deal “easy” to finalize, per X posts from @beINSPORTS_EN and @CFCDaily. Malouda predicted Osimhen could score “20 or more a season,” addressing Chelsea’s need for a prolific striker to complement their young squad, the Premier League’s youngest at an average age of 23.7, per football.london.
However, recent reports suggest challenges. The Mirror on April 27, 2025, noted Chelsea have “ruled out” a move, focusing instead on Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins, with Manchester United gaining ground after reaching a “basic agreement” with Osimhen, per Metro UK. Napoli’s €75m (£64.2m) release clause, potentially lowered for Saudi clubs, adds complexity, and Osimhen’s participation in the 2026 AFCON could see him miss up to 10 matches if signed, per football.london. Osimhen’s recent comments to The Mirror about wanting to “continue” with Galatasaray have cooled Premier League speculation, though he remains non-committal about his long-term future, per football.london.
X sentiment, seen in @CFCPys’s April 27 post, reflects Chelsea fans’ enthusiasm for Osimhen, with some, like @Blue_Footy, citing Mikel’s confidence in reviving talks. Critics, per chelsea.news, argue Maresca’s trust in Jackson and Ipswich’s Liam Delap could sideline Osimhen, with fans like @CFCDaily expressing frustration at the club’s hesitance. Malouda’s vision of Osimhen as a successor to African stars like Didier Drogba, coupled with his belief in Jackson’s growth under Osimhen’s influence, underscores the striker’s appeal, but Chelsea’s financial constraints under Profitability and Sustainability Rules and competition from rivals may hinder the transfer, per football.london.
Leave a comment