Chelsea’s deal for Enzo Fernandez last January was a complex one, but they could try to replicate it this summer with another player.
Chelsea paid £106.8m (Sky Sports) to sign Enzo Fernandez from Benfica, which was actually more than his release clause, and Ben Jacobs has told GiveMeSport that they could do the same with Napoli striker Victor Osimhen.
By doing so, the Blues will be able to structure the deal in a certain way.
Whatever they do, Osimhen is not going to come cheap. According to the Evening Standard, the 25-year-old has a £112m release clause in his contract.
Osimhen scored a big goal for Napoli in the first leg of their last-16 Champions League tie against Barcelona earlier this week, cancelling out Robert Lewandowski’s strike to make it 1-1, the final scoreline of the game.
Chelsea could try Enzo Fernandez-type deal with Victor Osimhen
Like with Fernandez, Jacobs thinks Chelsea may try and pay more than Osimhen’s release clause so they can structure the deal to sign him differently.
On the Blues’ interest in the Nigerian, the journalist said: “No, I don’t think that anyone will necessarily trigger Victor Osimhen’s release clause, that’s not Chelsea’s approach. The release clause is there to set market value, but I would imagine that Chelsea will want the ability to structure a deal slightly differently to the release clause. Either to get better payment terms or a slightly different structure.
“It’s obviously what they did with Enzo Fernandez, they were informed by the release clause, but they bid a million more than it in order to get a slightly different structure. I think that’s what Chelsea would be looking at with Victor Osimhen. But obviously, the release clause number is going to inform the sum evaluation and Chelsea will be there.”
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Is Victor Osimhen worth his release clause?
£112m is a lot of money for any player, especially one who did not have the best Africa Cup of Nations. In seven games, Osimhen was only able to score one goal.
However, the Nigeria international is still a top centre-forward overall, while Chelsea have spent more than £100m on midfielders Fernandez and Moises Caicedo, who cost £115m (Sky Sports).
When you consider that, Napoli are well within their rights to demand £112m for a player who scored 31 goals in all competitions last season.
