Chelsea get unexpected Victor Osimhen transfer message as Enzo Maresca discovers dream scenario

Chelsea look to have been given a further incentive to sign Victor Osimhen in an upcoming transfer window. The Blues have been linked to the 25-year-old for a number of years following his excellent form in Italy with Napoli with that continuing on loan at Galatasaray.

Following the appointment of Antonio Conte as manager, and arrival of Romelu Lukaku as a result, it was made clear to Osimhen that he had no short-term future in Naples. Despite remaining at the club beyond the end of the summer window, he was still able to join Galatasaray with the trading period in Turkiye closing a few days later.

From 10 games played, he has scored eight goals and grabbed four assists, though it should have been five this past weekend. In the clash against Bodrumspor, Osimhen offered Hakim Ziyech a golden chance to score in front of an open goal, but the Chelsea star somehow missed the target.

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Though Osimhen did not add to his goal contribution tally, he has been significantly praised by Galatasaray legend Umit Karan. Speaking on the SkySport YouTube channel as shared by Haber Sairikirmizi, he said: “Osimhen showed his character again.

"He directed Batshuayi immediately after the goal. He has adopted the team so much. Osimhen did not want to play as a centre forward in this match. He wanted to say, ‘If Icardi is not here, I am the leader of this team'. Otherwise, no centre forward would normally give those balls.

“I want to congratulate Osimhen wholeheartedly. He is perhaps the best player in the league anyway, but in this match, he showed us the existence of that heart. He gave the message ‘I will manage this team'. He suddenly caught this sense of belonging.”

The Nigeria international has very rarely been described as a leader but it is proof of another attribute he has and it is one that will certainly intrigue Maresca. The Chelsea boss has been rather clear in his belief that Chelsea lack leaders, in a brutal Reece James verdict, and thus the chances of signing Osimhen perhaps look to have increased.

“I spoke with him [James] and I expect from him more in terms of leadership inside the changing room,” he said in a press conference last month. "He’s on the way, he’s doing well, he’s progressing but I expect more. The one that is doing fantastic is Levi (Colwill).

"At the beginning he was not a leader but now you can see he’s one of the guys that’s always speaking. Marc Cucurella is one of the guys, but we need more and more.” The Blues are now again without James as the club captain has suffered another hamstring injury.