Chelsea have been advised on the strengths and weaknesses of potential signing Victor Osimhen, with former Blues midfielder Emmanuel Petit comparing the Nigerian striker to Diego Costa, but also raising concerns about his character.
The London club has been searching for a reliable number 9 across several transfer windows. While Nicolas Jackson currently occupies the position at Stamford Bridge, his performance continues to be scrutinized despite scoring nine goals in what has been an injury-affected season.
Osimhen has long been linked with a move to Chelsea, with his impressive goal-scoring record at Napoli and during his current loan spell with Turkish giants Galatasaray making him an attractive prospect for clubs across Europe.
However, Petit is not entirely convinced that the 26-year-old forward is what Chelsea needs. Speaking to YaySweepstakes.com, the ex-Chelsea midfielder expressed his reservations: "My concerns with Victor Osimhen would be with his personality and character, it can be a great thing for the team if it fits in, but it can also be difficult in other teams."
Petit acknowledged Osimhen's qualities, noting, "We all know his qualities and what he can bring to the team, he can score goals and bring character, he reminds me of Diego Costa in that sense, he is a fighter." The comparison to Costa is significant, as the Spanish striker helped Chelsea secure two Premier League titles between 2014 and 2017 with his aggressive playing style.
Despite the comparison to a successful former Chelsea forward, Petit suggested there might be better options available in the summer transfer market.
The challenge for Chelsea is that prolific strikers are currently in short supply. Other notable options, such as Sporting's Viktor Gyokeres and Newcastle's Alexander Isak, are attracting interest from multiple clubs. This competitive market may ultimately lead Chelsea back to Osimhen, who has previously appeared on their transfer radar.
