Chelsea Eye January Move for Osimhen After Loan Clause Sparks Fresh Hope

Chelsea’s pursuit of Victor Osimhen has been reignited with fresh hope of a January transfer after the striker’s recent request. The Blues had targeted Osimhen as a key signing during the final days of the summer transfer window but ultimately failed to secure an agreement.

As the transfer window closed across Europe’s top leagues, Osimhen found himself without a new club and facing the prospect of several months in exile at Napoli, following his exclusion from the squad. However, a potential lifeline emerged when Galatasaray expressed interest in a loan deal, which Osimhen quickly accepted under specific conditions.

According to Sky Sport Italia, Osimhen’s Napoli contract now includes a lower release clause, reduced from €130 million (£109.5m) to €75 million (£63.2m). Additionally, Napoli has the option to extend the striker’s contract until 2027 if he is not sold in the next summer transfer window.

One of Osimhen’s conditions for the loan move to Turkey was the inclusion of a January break clause, allowing him to return if a major European club makes an offer. Turkish outlet A Spor reports that this clause is limited to interest from 10 specific clubs.

While Galatasaray will cover Osimhen’s full salary during the loan period, they will not have the option to buy him. Turkish reporter Kagan Dursun notes that the list of eligible clubs under the break clause actually includes eight teams, with Osimhen personally naming Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Bayern Munich among them. Speculation suggests Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain are also likely to be on the list.

This development opens the door for Chelsea and other top European clubs to make a move for Osimhen in January, potentially reigniting the transfer saga as the winter window approaches.