Chelsea have reportedly been provided with a significant incentive to conclude a part-exchange deal involving Romelu Lukaku and Napoli forward Victor Osimhen.
Co-owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital have found themselves hindered in their efforts to sign Osimhen during the most recent transfer windows.
Napoli have not been prepared to cash in on the Nigeria international, an instrumental part of their Serie A title-winning campaign from 2022-23, for a fee below, at a bare minimum, of £80m.
With Osimhen penning a new contract in December, a release clause in the region of £110m was included, protecting Napoli at a time when they were struggling to qualify for next season's Champions League.
Even having missed out on European football for 2024-25, reports have persisted that Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis is not prepared to sell the 25-year-old for before that figure, as Paris Saint-Germain have recently discovered.
However, in recent days, it has emerged that there is a willingness to entertain some kind of a swap deal with Chelsea that includes Lukaku, the preferred alternative for Osimhen.
Transfer saga takes surprise turn
Antonio Conte - a former coach of Lukaku's - is now in charge of Napoli and has specifically identified the former Inter Milan star as the player that he wants to use down the centre of his attack should Osimhen leave Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
Up until now, that has only seemed plausible if PSG, Chelsea or another team opt to pay one of the biggest transfer fees in history.
Instead, according journalist David Ornstein of The Athletic, Napoli are now willing to entertain a season-long loan exit for their star man.
De Laurentiis is allegedly prepared to allow Osimhen to move to Stamford Bridge for one season, with Chelsea possessing the option to sign him on a permanent basis.
The report does not specify whether the clause would be optional or mandatory, yet it is clear that Chelsea would be expected to pay a considerable loan fee should such an arrangement materialise.
Unlike has occurred with Inter and Roma over the past two seasons, Ornstein adds that Lukaku would move in the opposite direction on a permanent basis.
A deal that suits all parties?
Chelsea would be the clear beneficiaries if they can successfully negotiate terms with Napoli to such an extent that the deal, on the face of it, appears too good to be true.
Getting Lukaku and his wages off their outgoings is the priority, but getting long-term target Osimhen through the door to take the lead role in Enzo Maresca's attack would be the cherry on top of the cake.
There remains potential stumbling blocks, though. It remains to be seen what Chelsea would be expected to pay in 2025, while Osimhen is currently only on a contract with Napoli until 2026.
De Laurentiis will want to do everything to protect Napoli's position to the extent where it may theoretically take another contract extension from Osimhen to seal the deal, unless Chelsea are obligated to pay a mammoth fee next July. body check tags ::
