Chelsea can rival Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool for the Premier League title this season if they sign long-term target Victor Osimhen in January.
That is the opinion of former Chelsea winger Florent Malouda, who claims the addition of Osimhen would take an already impressive Enzo Maresca team to a whole new level.
The Blues were widely tipped to struggle in Maresca’s first season at Stamford Bridge following another hectic summer, but Chelsea have in fact taken 14 points from their first seven games to climb to fourth in the Premier League.
Only defending champions Man City have scored more goals than dynamic and exciting Chelsea but Malouda nevertheless believes his former club would benefit from the acquisition of top striker Osimhen.
Chelsea have been heavily linked with a move for the Nigerian in recent years and sent a delegation to Naples last summer in a bid to bring him to west London.
The Stamford Bridge party returned home disappointed, however, and Osimhen subsequently joined Turkish Galatasaray on loan.
Osimhen scored 76 goals in 133 appearances for Napoli and Malouda has urged Chelsea to attempt to secure his signature, claiming his arrival would instantly turn the Blues into title contenders.
‘We almost signed Victor Osimhen in the summer, and he is the type of player that would add extra quality to this Chelsea team,’ Malouda told Coin Poker.
‘If there is an opportunity to bring him in in January, then I think the club has to look at it. From what I’ve read, he will cost less than the numbers that were quoted in the summer – the fee is reportedly in the region of £70m.
‘Galatasaray would hate to lose him, but he’s a Napoli player and the noises coming out of Naples recently indicate that her will be available in January.
‘Chelsea should be competing for the world’s best players. Osimhen is in that category.
‘You want to see the club add more quality to its team because that is what every ambitious club does, and his addition would bring Chelsea a step closer to the likes of Manchester City and Arsenal.
‘It seems like the player wants to come to Chelsea. We’ll see if we can get him, but I would love the club to move for him because a lot of things can happen between now and January.
‘There could be competition to bring him in – I would love to see the club working on a deal for him. Osimhen would be a great addition to the squad.’
Malouda, who made 229 appearances for Chelsea and won both the Premier League and Champions League at Stamford Bridge, added: ‘Victor Osimhen would be very welcome.
‘I think Didier Drogba had a lot of nice things to say about him. He would have to write his own history, but of course there would be a lot of expectation and excitement [if he joined].
‘I think the addition of Osimhen would send out a big message to the other top teams in the Premier League. If Chelsea signed him, then I think we could say for certain that his quality would put Chelsea right into the title race.
‘If Chelsea can stay within touching distance of the top of the table, then adding Osimhen to the squad in January would give the fans and the club a really exciting second half to the season.’
Chelsea will look to continue their impressive run of form on Sunday when they travel to Anfield to take on early Premier League leaders Liverpool.
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