Chelsea could begin next season with two ‘Didier Drogba’s’ at Stamford Bridge if Todd Boehly completes the signing of Napoli star Victor Osimhen in the summer transfer window. Jose Mourinho has likened the Nigeria international to the Blues legend in the past but offered some advice to the striker on how to secure a move to the Premier League.
Chelsea have seriously struggled for goals this season having only netted 31 times in 33 Premier League fixtures this term. football.london understands Christopher Nkunku has signed a pre-contract agreement with the Blues and will complete a move to Stamford Bridge this summer after scoring 19 goals in 31 appearances so far this season.
Napoli are all-but Serie A champions with Osimhen being a standout performer, resulting in the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich being linked with making a move for the 24-year-old. Osimhen would slot in as competition for fellow African forward David Datro Fofana, who like the Nigerian striker, has had direct comparisons drawn to Drogba.
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As quoted by Goal, Mourinho said: "He [Osimhen] is of the same level as Drogba, but Didier didn’t dive. If Victor changes, then OK.
"I’d buy him if I was at a club with a lot of money. However, if he does go to England one day, he needs to change, because in Italy they put up with this sort of behaviour, whereas in the Premier League, they’d come down hard on him."
Fofana has already admitted that Drogba was a childhood idol of his before completing a January transfer to Stamford Bridge. "Chelsea have been my favourite club since I was little,” Fofana had said in the past, speaking to Norwegian outlet TV2.
“Drogba played there, so they have always been my club. So it’s my dream," Fofana said, admitting the effect of Drogba as a role model and how it has shaped his life so far.
Chelsea are in desperate need of attacking reinforcements with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Kai Havertz both struggling to find form in front of goal this term. The West Londoners have never been able to find a like-for-like replacement after Drogba left the club in 2012, and then again in 2015 after returning for a season, but Osimhen could be set to fill that gap.
Napoli will demand a fee in the region of £100million to let go of their star striker - who has scored 26 goals this season - which has contributed to United turning their attention to alternative targets. Erik ten Hag wants to sign a new No.9 this summer after the club mutually agreed to terminate Cristiano Ronaldo's contract prior to the World Cup.
Randal Kolo Muani has emerged as an option for United to pursue with the Frenchman being valued at around £85million. United's decision has allowed Todd Boehly a clear path to go and sign Osimhen from Napoli as Chelsea look set for another busy summer of spending.
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