Fabrizio Romano says Arsenal and Chelsea target is unlikely to leave Serie A team in January

Fabrizio Romano confirms Chelsea target likely to remain at Napoli in January

Fabrizio Romano has dismissed talks of Victor Osimhen possibly leaving Napoli in the January transfer window amidst interest from Chelsea and Arsenal.

Napoli don’t want their star forward to leave in the middle of the season, but Romano also reiterated that anything could happen in the 2024 summer transfer window.

It is also understood the Blues have made Osimhen their top priority and want to sign the 24-year-old in January, who is also open to a move to Stamford Bridge.

The West Londoners have been pressuring Napoli with frequent approaches for the striker and want to sign him before any other club spoils the party.

However, Romano’s update on Osimhen transfer rumours has handed a blow for the Blues to sign him in the January transfer window, the transfer expert revealed in his Daily Briefing caught-offside column:

“Back to the transfer market: I’m aware there have been some reports linking Arsenal with Victor Osimhen, and this follows some outlets claiming the Napoli striker’s agent held talks with the Gunners around a year ago.”

“We know that Arsenal and Chelsea are both keeping an eye on strikers for 2024, so it’s normal to see these links. But it’s important to reiterate that it’s very difficult to consider those links for January because Napoli insists they don’t want to sell him in the middle of the season. For the summer, anything can happen, but it isn’t being decided for sure.”

Romano is a well-known transfer journalist who is aware of what is going on and which clubs are going to make moves for which players. His transfer updates are almost always accurate. Thus, there are conflicting feelings about Chelsea’s chances of signing Osimhen in January, given that Napoli clearly do not want him to depart in the middle of the campaign. It will be best for them to sell next summer so they can find a suitable replacement in good time.

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Chelsea will attempt to persuade Napoli to sell the Nigerian striker, and perhaps they will succeed in doing so. However, it will be difficult, so let’s wait and see what happens throughout January.