Victor Osimhen wants Premier League record breaking salary to complete Chelsea transfer

Feargal Brennan

Victor Osimhen wants Premier League record breaking salary to complete Chelsea transfer image

Chelsea are preparing a final transfer push for Napoli striker Victor Osimhen ahead of the final days of the Premier League transfer window.

The Blues are expected to be very busy before the window slams shuts on August 30 with Raheem Sterling and Romelu Lukaku set to move on after being eased out of Enzo Maresca's plans.

The Italian coach hinted a new forward is a key target, ahead of today's EPL clash with Wolves, and Osimhen is the rumoured first choice.

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However, despite Chelsea's willingness to make an offer in the region of £85m ($112m), wages could be a key stumbling block in any negotiations,

As per reports from the Daily Mail, Osimhen is demanding a weekly salary package of £500,000-a-week ($660,000) which would set a new Premier League record as the English top-flight's highest paid player in history.

It would bring him above Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne, on £400,000 ($523,000) per week, but Chelsea cannot afford that figure, as they aim to stay within Premier League financial guidelines.

Osmihen's record of 76 goals in 133 appearances for Napoli, including 26 league goals as they won the 2023 Serie A title, is the major pull factor for Chelsea, but the club need to maintain a delicate financial balance in the coming days.

Feargal Brennan

Feargal Brennan Photo

Feargal is a content producer for The Sporting News. He has been working with TSN since the start of 2022 after stints with Reach, Amazon UK and Squawka in a nomadic career in the football media pyramid. Always with a keen eye on Arteta's 'Reds' and Kenny's Ireland 'Greens' and a 100% five-a-side penalty record.