Two of Chelsea's transfer targets have been heavily praised after a stellar Champions League group stage came to its fruition last night for Napoli.
The Italian side top Serie A with 10 wins from 12 matches and remain unbeaten in the league. They have carried that form into Europe as well, winning their first five matches to confirm a first placed group finish, only losing to Liverpool on the final matchday.
In the process, Napoli have become one of the most feared attacking units in the world. They have scored 30 in 12 league games, helped by star striker Victor Osimhen, and were the top scorers in the group stage with 20 in six games.
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They have already scored three or more goals in 12 matches this season and their threat under Luciano Spalletti isn't going unnoticed. Such is the potency of their forward-line, transfer links are already cropping up with Osimhen central to those discussions. The 23-year-old is the joint top-scorer in Italy this season with seven and also has one in three European matches as well.
He has been linked with a move away from Naples ever since his big money move from Lille in 2020. Chelsea are one of the sides that have shown interest in the Nigerian, but his £80m price-tag has always been too much when put on top of the expenditure on other players for the Blues in the meantime.
Speaking about the forward before the match, Michael Owen gave a glittering verdict on Osimhen, saying, "I love his directness, he’s only young but he scores bags of goals. He scored a hat-trick at the weekend, he was €70 million (£60 million), he’s semi-proven but I love his directness, he’s powerful, strikes the ball well. This team is a formidable outfit for breaking forward."
As well as Osimhen, perhaps stealing the light has been Geogian star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. The winger burst onto the scene with his opening night performance against Liverpool and has gone on to get two goals and three assists in five games. He already has six goals and seven assist in the league as well.
Owen Hargreaves was raving about him and said, "He’s breathtaking to watch, only 21, €10m (£8.6 million), two-footed, goals and assists galore. Everyone he plays against he pretty much terrorises them, he’s quick, technically good, good finisher, the assists are. It’s remarkable, he looks like a ready, consistent Champions League player. He’s almost like the perfect winger, he can do anything."
Such has been his rise, having only joined from Dinamo Butami in the summer, Kvaratskhelia is one of the most in-form players in Europe and has caught the attention of Chelsea, who are planning more attacking moves with Rafael Leao and Christopher Nkunku both targets.
He has already been nicknamed 'Kvaradona' after club legend Diego Maradona, but if the Blues want to prize him away from Naples, they may have to fork out £86 million. Speaking to Fabrizio Romano's Youtube channel, his agent Christian Emile said: "You know what’s crazy, he’s done what he’s been in doing in Russia and Europe for the past couple of years.
“He’s come to Napoli, he’s been brilliant, and people are talking about 100m euros. For me, if he continues to perform like this till the end of the season and next season, because there’s a zero per cent chance they sell him [in January]. He will reach 100m euros for sure.”
Owen also glowed about his recent performances, adding: "He does a bit of everything, he’s different class. There’s so many star players in this team, he’s one of them."
Hargreaves was taken in by his ferocious start at Anfield too: "Thirty-seconds in, a little nutmeg and shift outside, that’s some start. He’s direct, he’s getting at Trent [Alexander-Arnold], beating Konate for pace which is hard to do but he’s fantastic, so direct. He’s probably been the most interesting player to watch, when he gets the ball he tries to make something. He’s really positive, he’s great to watch."
Rio Ferdinand completed a set of admirable on-lookers, stating: "Watching him in full flow, I mean, your jaws gone off."
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