Chelsea co-owner and acting sporting director Todd Boehly spent over £200million in the summer during his first transfer window since taking charge at Stamford Bridge, and he could be set to back Graham Potter with more firepower that has been approved by club icon Didier Drogba. The Ivorian spearheaded the Blues’ attack for several years under Jose Mourinho, and claimed four Premier League titles and one Champions League trophy in his two stints at the club.
Chelsea could be in the market for another striker despite only recently bringing in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Barcelona. The Gabon star was bought with Thomas Tuchel in mind, but he only played once for his former Borussia Dortmund coach at Chelsea before Boehly made the decision to sack the German and replace him with Potter.
Under Potter, Aubameyang has been in and out of the team as Kai Havertz and Armando Broja have both been tried as the side’s focal point. Chelsea could be in the market for another striker as soon as January, and Napoli forward Victor Osimhen has been linked with the Blues among a host of top clubs after his strong form this season.
The 23-year-old has seven goals in seven Serie A starts this season as Luciano Spalletti’s side sit top of the table, and he was praised for handing a penalty to team-mate and Georgian sensation Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in the Italian side’s 4-2 Champions League win over Ajax. The 21-year-old slotted past Remko Pasveer, but Osimhen drew praise from Drogba for giving the penalty away.
“Oh yes, he is a great striker. Can he become one of the greatest in the world? Yes it is possible, in football everything is possible. When you have a talent like his, I think it’s just a question of momentum.”
Should Boehly take Drogba’s advice and attempt to sign Osimhen remains to be seen, but if he does then there will be stiff competition as Manchester United have been among the teams linked with a potential move. Any transfer is likely to be expensive, as the Naples club have reportedly slapped an £87m price tag to ward off potential suitors.
Chelsea paid close to that fee for Leicester defender Wesley Fofana in the summer however, and Boehly has shown that he is not afraid to spend in west London.