'If I'm Osimhen' - Shaka Hislop urges Napoli striker to prioritise a move to Real Madrid, Barca over Chelsea 

Former West Ham United goalkeeper Shaka Hislop has advised Victor Osimhen to prioritize a move to either Real Madrid or Barcelona over a potential switch to Premier League club Chelsea.

Osimhen's situation at Napoli deteriorated in recent weeks and now there are fresh rumours linking him with a transfer to Chelsea in the January transfer window. 

Despite the signing of attack-minded trio Christopher Nkunku, Nicolas Jackson and Cole Palmer in the summer transfer window, and the return of Armando Broja from a long-term injury, Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino is keen on further strengthening his attack and Osimhen has been heavily linked with a transfer to Stamford Bridge.

Hislop has highlighted the top European clubs are always in the market for a world-class centre-forward and urged the Nigeria international to cherry-pick one of Real Madrid or Barcelona even though he noted that Chelsea have the financial muscle to meet Napoli's valuation of the number 9 and also pay his wages. 

Speaking on ESPN FC, Hislop stated: "If I'm Victor Osimhen and the exit door is open in January, right now I'm not sure Chelsea is the club I want to go to.

"These things always kind of move in cycles, few years ago you couldn't get centre-backs. If you were a centre-back on top of your game then you could have gone almost anywhere you chose, we're back in that era with strikers and it happens with strikers more than most.

"Right now you look around world football and there are a number of clubs who are in desperate need of a striker.

"If you continue looking in English football, Manchester United have Højlund but Osimhen is in a different category.

"There are a number of clubs that you absolutely can go to and not just if you're looking at English football, never mind Chelsea. There are a number of clubs in a better position that you can go to."

Hislop continued: "If you start to look further afield we can talk Real Madrid. Lewandowski is there at Barcelona and I don't see him moving for another couple of seasons.

"He's quickly closing in on 35 but this January coming might be a little too soon for him. Again I think there are a number of suitors better positioned than Chelsea and Osimhen is a highly-sought after talent, so while Chelsea may have the money, while Chelsea may be willing to pay him more than most, I'm not sure that's a good fit right now for Victor Osimhem."

Napoli are keen to tie down Osimhen to a new deal but talks have not progressed in recent weeks in the wake of his touchline row with manager Rudi Garcia, the TikTok saga, and the release clause to be inserted into his proposed new contract.

"I'll wait and see. Osimhen loves Napoli as a city but the missteps by the club have just been absolutely ridiculous over the last couple of weeks and you can understand if he's just now frustrated with it all - personal and professional missteps, let me add.

"You can understand if he's frustrated with it all and is now considering an exit. I'm not sure Chelsea is right now the solution that Osimhen is looking for," Hislop concluded.

Signed from Lille for a club record fee of 75m euros in 2020, Osimhen will enter the last one year of his contract with Napoli at the end of the 2023-2024 season.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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