Former Nigeria international and current Director of Football for the Saudi Pro League, Michael Emenalo, has expressed his surprise that Chelsea were unable to secure Napoli striker Victor Osimhen during the summer transfer window.
Osimhen’s potential transfers to Al-Ahli and Chelsea headlined the summer window, with the Nigerian forward in high demand. However, both deals fell apart before the deadline, leaving the 24-year-old to join Turkish champions Galatasaray on a season-long loan.
Chelsea were prepared to include Romelu Lukaku as part of a swap deal to bring Osimhen to Stamford Bridge, but negotiations with Napoli failed to reach a conclusion. Napoli’s asking price of €130 million, coupled with Osimhen’s high wage demands, created roadblocks for any potential transfer.
Despite Al-Ahli offering Osimhen an eye-watering £650,000 per week, Napoli’s stringent demands proved to be a dealbreaker. Chelsea, too, found themselves constrained by financial limitations, especially with Osimhen raising concerns over the heavy taxes he would face in the UK.
Emenalo’s take on the failed transfer
In an appearance on The Obi One Podcast, Emenalo reflected on the situation, highlighting that the clubs may have misjudged how close they were to completing the deal.
“For me, it's closed when the paperwork come through my desk and requires my evaluation and signature. Until that happens then it is not closed and that didn't happen. I didn't see any paperwork.
“But there was obviously clear mammoth interest. Who wouldn't want Victor Osimhen? All things being equal, you're building a team, I thought my former club will get him because he is terrific.”
Emenalo has suggested that both Chelsea and Al-Ahli missed out on the reigning African Footballer of the Year because negotiations started late.
“Maybe people acted late, there are initial negotiations and conversations that need to take place and the bigger the player is, the longer and more complicated these conversations are.
“The selling club wants to do really well with the deal, the buying club wants to buy within budget, in between negotiations and lawyers, agents.
“My point isn't that maybe those conversations were taking place, I wasn't part of it, but it never came to the stage where they say Michael you need to sign off on this.”
With the summer window closed in Europe’s top leagues, Galatasaray managed to swoop in and secure Osimhen on a loan deal for the 2024/25 season.
