Nigeria’s superstar forward Victor Osimhen has been linked heavily with a move to Chelsea, who are looking to add firepower to their attack after another below-par season in the English Premier League.
Osimhen has all the tools to be a hit in the Premier League, as proved by his exploits for both Napoli and the Super Eagles. A fast, strong and hardworking goalscorer, many teams have been after Osimhen’s signature but it looks like big-spenders Chelsea are in the driving seat this summer.
We’ve taken a look at how Osimhen could fit in to a Chelsea squad under Enzo Maresca’s management.
Lethal up top
Victor Osimhen and Chelsea’s current front man Nicolas Jackson have largely similar playing styles, but with one big difference. Jackson notched 14 EPL goals in his debut season, which is a strong return for any young player, but his wastefulness in front of goal was a big criticism come the end of the season.
Osimhen’s lethal finishing instincts can help Chelsea bridge the gap between a good team and a team competing for the top four or even the title – it would be interesting to see if he can dovetail with someone like Jackson, who put in good showings drifting out to the left wing at times, and create havoc for defences across the country with their physical qualities.
Palmer connection
Cole Palmer was outstanding in his breakout season last year, claiming 42 goals and assists across all competitions. While Palmer is more than capable of creating moments of magic on his own, he would definitely welcome the addition of a player like Osimhen who can get on the end of his passes and create space in and around the box for him.
Work ethic
One aspect of Osimhen’s game that isn’t spoken about as much as it should be is his work rate and ability to put the team ahead of his own personal statistics.
In AFCON earlier this year, Nigeria’s attack lacked cohesion and struggled to cause opponents issues, but Osimhen’s tireless running and chasing of lost causes dragged the side through games and gave his teammates the boost that they needed in an intense tournament.
