Victor Osimhen is free to leave Napoli this summer (Photo: Getty)
John Obi Mikel has revealed that he and Didier Drogba have been in touch with Victor Osimhen in a bid to persuade him to join Chelsea.
Osimhen has long been a target for the Blues, with reports suggesting he is one of four strikers the club are keeping tabs on with the new Premier League season just days away.
Napoli have agreed to let their talisman go but insist his €130million (£110.8m) release clause must be triggered, something that is putting off Chelsea and fellow admirers PSG.
Chelsea would like to bring the 25-year-old to Stamford Bridge on an initial loan, though it is not known where the player himself stands on the transfer.
But according to Obi Mikel, Osimhen ‘loves’ Chelsea and would be keen on the move, with the Blues legend claiming he and former teammate Drogba have been doing their bit to convince the Nigerian to join Enzo Maresca’s side.
‘We don’t really need somebody who’s going to come in and be feeding and creating chances. We want somebody who can finish, score goals, the tap-ins,’ Obi Mikel said.
‘Someone like Erling Haaland. That’s something Victor Osimhen will bring to Chelsea.
John Obi Mikel will do his ‘best to make sure’ Osimhen signs for Chelsea (Photo: Getty)
‘I hope that Chelsea fans will finally see him come to the club. I’ll make sure I send him those texts messages and calls, making sure Chelsea is his top priority!
‘But it seems like he loves the club and wants to come to Chelsea. I’m sure he has all the big clubs wanting to sign him. I think if we can secure his signature it would be fantastic for the club.
‘He’s somebody who will get us goals and that’s something that we need right now. A fantastic guy, fantastic human being and I really do hope he comes to the club and I’ll try my best to make sure that happens.
Osimhen has been likened to Chelsea legend Didier Drogba (Photo: Getty)
‘Didier is also speaking to him, sharing his own ideas and what the club means to us. We all want to see Victor come to the club. If it happens, it happens.
‘It’s a huge transfer fee, but if we can match it and get him to the club that would be absolutely fantastic.’
Chelsea have struggled since the Todd Boehly takeover and have embarked on another huge spending spree under new manager Maresca, with nine new signings so far at a cost of over £161m.
‘This is Chelsea Football Club, you have to win games, you have to win trophies,’ Obi Mikel added.
‘Yes we’re giving them time. It’s been enough time now to be able to come together as a team to start to play much better.’
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