“Answer to Haaland” – Chelsea in talks to sign ‘talented’ £111m goal machine

The Challenge of Finding the Right Striker: Chelsea’s Struggles and Osimhen’s Potential

The striker position is often considered one of the most difficult roles to get right in football. Since the primary objective of the game is to score more goals than the opposition, having a prolific striker can significantly improve a team’s success. However, Chelsea has faced years of frustration with their so-called “number nine curse,” with strikers such as Álvaro Morata, Romelu Lukaku, Gonzalo Higuaín, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and Radamel Falcao, among others, failing to meet expectations during their time at the club.

Romelu Lukaku’s Uncertain Future at Chelsea

One of the strikers still at Chelsea is Romelu Lukaku, who had a challenging spell with the club before spending last season on loan at AS Roma, where he scored 21 goals in 47 appearances across all competitions. However, Lukaku’s future remains uncertain, as Chelsea continues to seek solutions. According to Sky Sports Italia, Chelsea is currently in discussions with Napoli regarding a potential deal to swap Lukaku for their star striker, Victor Osimhen. The proposed deal would involve Lukaku plus a cash payment to account for Osimhen’s valuation, which stands at a hefty £111 million. Chelsea is reportedly open to making a permanent move for Osimhen, despite previous reports suggesting that a loan deal with an option to buy was being considered.

Victor Osimhen’s Performance

Victor Osimhen, who is 25 years old, made 32 appearances for Napoli last season in all competitions, scoring 17 goals and providing 4 assists in 2,476 minutes of play. The season before that, Osimhen had an even more impressive campaign, scoring 31 goals and assisting 5 times in 39 appearances.

Comparison Between Osimhen and Haaland

Osimhen has drawn comparisons to Manchester City’s star striker Erling Haaland, as both possess a physical presence that suits the Premier League. Haaland, often described as a “force of nature,” made 45 appearances for Manchester City last season, scoring 38 goals and providing 6 assists across 3,745 minutes of play. To get a better sense of Osimhen’s potential, it’s helpful to compare his performance across seasons.

Expected Goals (xG) – Key Indicator of a Striker’s Quality

One of the key statistics used to evaluate strikers is expected goals (xG), which measures the quality of chances a player has in front of goal. Analysts often value a striker’s ability to consistently get into goal-scoring positions more than their ability to finish chances, as some of the best strikers underperform their xG. Haaland, for example, had a G-xG (Goals minus Expected Goals) metric of -0.09 last season, generating 0.98 xG per 90 minutes. Despite missing some chances he was expected to score, Haaland’s high xG allowed him to net an impressive 38 goals.

Similarly, Osimhen underperformed his xG for the first time since the 2020/21 season, with a G-xG of -0.03 last season. Despite this, he still managed to score 17 goals, largely due to the sheer volume of xG he created. Osimhen’s ability to generate chances and find himself in goal-scoring positions remains one of his greatest strengths.

Osimhen’s Contributions Despite Napoli’s Struggles

Napoli had a challenging season last year, finishing 10th in Serie A, their worst performance since 2008/09. While Osimhen was part of the team, several factors, including three managerial changes, likely impacted his overall output. Even at his worst, Osimhen continued to generate chances and maintain high xG with his presence in the box, aerial ability, and clever movement. On average, he recorded nearly seven touches in the penalty area per 90 minutes, which is actually higher than Haaland’s average.

Conclusion

Chelsea’s ongoing search for a reliable striker has led them to consider Victor Osimhen as a potential solution to their long-standing “number nine curse.” While Romelu Lukaku’s future remains uncertain, Osimhen’s proven ability to generate high-quality chances and his potential to thrive in the Premier League make him an attractive option for Chelsea. If the club can secure a deal for the Nigerian forward, he could finally be the striker to break Chelsea’s cycle of disappointment in front of goal.