Chelsea 'one phone call away' from £64m signing in transfer battle with Man Utd

Enzo Maresca and Chelsea have been told that this goal-hungry striker is just 'one call away' from Stamford Bridge, though Manchester United reportedly have other ideas

Chelsea are just 'one call away' from landing star striker Victor Osimhen, according to former midfielder John Obi Mikel. However, the marksman is also on Manchester United's radar.

Osimhen has long been of interest to the Premier League's big hitters, having established himself as one of Europe's finest goal-scorers with Napoli. It had appeared as though Osimhen might move on last summer, but with no permanent suitors forthcoming, he went on loan to Galatasaray instead.

It is thought that after this temporary move ends this summer, Osimhen will favour a permanent transfer, and the Blues - who have held a documented interest in the Nigerian star before - are among rumoured suitors. Mikel, who called west London home for over a decade from 2006 until 2017, is close with his 26-year-old countryman and feels that just one phone call could seal a switch.

"Listen, it will be really sad if we don't get a player who supported us as a kid and wants to play for this football club," the former Chelsea star said on Osimhen, appearing on the The Obi One Podcast.

"His idol is Drogba. He will want to break records, win us trophies, get us back to the top, and come for Drogba's records. I'm telling you, that would be his mission.

"If the club chose not to pursue it, then well, fair enough. Good luck to them, but the good thing about it is we know where we left it. We can literally pick the phone up and get him straight in the door. Get him in!"

Yet, if other reports are to be believed, it is another Premier League team – Ruben Amorim's Red Devils – that will pursue Osimhen with the most vigour.

Sky Germany states that United have drawn up a four-man wishlist for the summer window, with Osimhen's name among them. With Rasmus Hojlund purchased from the Serie A for a substantial sum and failing to catch the eye - mustering just 24 goals in all competitions during 84 games - and summer recruit Joshua Zirkzee being utilised in a less-advanced position, a prolific No. 9 looks set to be on the agenda again at Old Trafford this summer.

It is estimated that Osimhen's contract holds a £64m release clause, and comments made by club legend Gary Neville suggest the bank should be broken to secure such a forward.

"They need five new players straight away before you even think about the rest of it. The three up front are not good enough, and the two wing-backs, they're not good enough," he stated on Sky Sports.

"They need five players. They need to serve him [Amorim] with five players who are good enough in this system to be able to play his system the way he wants."

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