Chelsea make the £87m striker their top striker

Chelsea have been compromised this season – but every cloud has a silver lining, right?

Although the Blues' hopes of playing in Europe next season (or whatever) are on hold, BlueCo have pulled off a coup: hiring Xabi Alonso as Chelsea's new club manager.

Alonso, 43, is one of the world's most exciting new managers, and his signing came with demands for more control than his Stamford Bridge predecessor Todd Boehly.

One decision that the powers that be are in concert is the need for a free number nine.

Chelsea make a world-class striker their main striker

Joao Pedro has been named Chelsea's player of the year for 2025/26. The Brazilian forward has yet to be named in Carlo Ancelotti's World Cup squad, but he is undoubtedly one of the most dangerous strikers in the Premier League.

However, he is not a standout, and with Liam Delap flattering to deceive this season, it is clear that Alonso will be looking for a higher level of goalscoring.

According to Caught Offside, Chelsea have made Victor Osimhen their attacking transfer target this summer, with the Galatasaray striker thought to be a good choice to take the club to the next level.

Reportedly worth a transfer fee of around £87m, Osimhen is one of the most valuable strikers in the world, and with Chelsea already trying to sign him, the groundwork has already been laid for someone to turn this flagging project around.

Why Osimhen is not good for Chelsea

Osimhen's career changed to the left in 2024, his good career at Napoli in tatters and the dream move to Chelsea is over. His life came from Turkey, and Galatasaray took him.

The 27-year-old has been impressive, scoring 59 goals and providing 16 assists in 74 appearances in all competitions. The Nigerian played well in the Super Lig, although his best performance is reserved for the Champions League, scoring seven goals in ten games this season and winning 5.3 duels per game.

Not just a clinical poacher, Osimhen has completed 80% of his tackles in Europe's top competition, emphasizing an incredible ability to get forward into the dangerous area, where he strikes and often leaves the goalkeeper stranded, tearing the net.

There is certainly something Haaland-esque about the 6 foot 1 striker, who is strong and tough but also very fast, timing his runs to perfection with defenders rubbing shoulders in his path.

Whether Chelsea will be told to pay the £130m asking price Gala seems to be demanding remains to be seen, but there is no doubt he has the potential to develop alongside the likes of Haaland, perhaps even surpassing him as Enzo Maresca tries to replace Pep Guardiola at the Etihad.

For Napoli, he was instrumental in securing their first Scudetto in as many years, and has been hailed by journalist Matt Barlow in the past as a “world-class” goalscorer.

Arsenal-focused writer Harvey Diamonds even noted that Osimhen would be his side's “answer to Haaland”, if they can upgrade Viktor Gyokeres by bringing him to the Emirates this summer. Chelsea will not allow that, because they need to close the gap on their London rivals.

Are you really on Haaland's level? Probably not – but then, who is? The Norwegian has scored any number of goals over the years, and for Guardiola, he has scored 161 goals and provided 30 assists in just 197 games, winning a full game.

Haaland is out of reach, but in Osimhen, Chelsea could find the next big thing, a big bidding force for a striker who looks made for the Premier League.

Chelsea have already done their homework on the star player, after all.