Chelsea could be handed transfer lifeline by Italian club

Chelsea will be hoping to record a first win of their pre-season campaign when they face Mexican side Club America in a friendly on Thursday morning. 

The Blues were held to a 2-2 draw by League One side Wrexham in the opening match of their US tour earlier this month, before slumping to a shock 4-1 defeat against Scottish champions Celtic on Saturday.

New head coach Enzo Maresca will be desperate to see his side improve when they face their Mexican opponents in Atlanta, Georgia later this week.

The West London outfit have already signed no fewer than six new players during the current transfer window, but it appears that their spending could continue.

According to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea could agree a player-plus-cash swap deal involving Romelu Lukaku and Napoli striker Victor Osimhen.

The Serie A giants – now managed by former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte – have shown significant interest in Belgian forward Lukaku, and Romano claims that the Italian side are open to the prospect of discussing a swap deal.

Osimhen has been a target for Chelsea for some time now

Napoli would demand Lukaku plus a fee in order to allow Osimhen to move to Stamford Bridge, the report claims.

Osimhen, 25, has scored 76 goals in 133 games for Napoli since joining from French side Lille four years ago.

His impressive form has attracted interest from several clubs, and Romano claims that the Nigeria international has already agreed a move to Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain.

Lukaku, meanwhile, made a sensational return to Chelsea in 2021 after helping Inter Milan to the Italian top flight title, but his return to England didn’t go to plan and he was subsequently loaned back to Inter a year later.

The Belgium international spent last season on loan at Italian club Roma, but he now faces an uncertain future with the Blues struggling to sell him and almost certain to make a significant loss in the £97.5 million that they paid for him three years ago.