Chelsea in limbo as Kylian Mbappe decision will free up rivals to hijack £110m transfer

Chelsea have been thrown into transfer limbo with Kylian Mbappe’s decision to leave Paris Saint-Germain reportedly impacting their summer plans. The Blues have been linked with a move for Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, who is now being tipped to join PSG as Mbappe’s replacement instead.

Long-term admirers of Osimhen, it’s expected Chelsea will be in the mix to sign the striker this summer. That’s because Osimhen has been rumoured as wanting out of Napoli, with the Nigeria international open to a move to the Premier League.

It’s easy to see why Chelsea are so keen. Since arriving in Serie A four years ago, Osimhen has scored for fun, netting 67 goals in 119 Napoli appearances. And with Chelsea having struggled for goals this season, Osimhem could prove to be the perfect signing for Mauricio Pochettino’s side.

Reports from Italy suggest Napoli won’t let Osimhen leave for cheap though, as the 25-year-old is under contract in Naples until June 2026. A figure of £110 million is being banded about as the required asking price, meaning Chelsea will have to stump up a hefty fee if they wish to sign Osimhen in the summer.

But because of the Blues’ FFP concerns, that could prove an asking price out of their remit, opening the door for another club to come in and secure Osimhen’s services instead. One of those being PSG, who are believed to be tracking Osimhen’s current situation at Napoli, ahead of a busy summer of transfer activity in the French capital.

It’s claimed Mbappe leaving PSG will open up a slot in the Ligue 1 outfit’s attack that will need to be filled. What’s more, PSG could look to plug the Mbappe gap with a marquee signing of their own, and there are few better options on the market right now than goal-machine Osimhen.

Also, given Mbappe’s hefty contract at the Parc des Princes, PSG are set to save millions each season with the Frenchman off their books. As per The Athletic, Mbappe costs the 11-time French champions a whopping £171 million each year in wages – money that could end up being repurposed on the Osimhen transfer.

All of that has left the Chelsea hierarchy with a conundrum ahead of the summer transfer window. While they may be keen to sign Osimhen to fix their goal-scoring woes, should PSG flex their financial muscles and beat Chelsea to his signature, it could prove detrimental to their summer transfer plans.