Chelsea could make swap deal offer for Serie A star

Chelsea cruised to an emphatic 5-0 victory over London rivals West Ham United on Sunday afternoon. 

Cole Palmer put the Blues ahead with his 21st Premier League goal of the season, before Conor Gallagher doubled their advantage.

Noni Madueke added a third before half-time, before a second half brace from Nicolas Jackson ensured three points for Mauricio Pochettino’s side.

The result moved Chelsea above Manchester United and into seventh place in the table, although the Red Devils can leapfrog the Blues by beating Crystal Palace on Monday evening.

Off the pitch, it has emerged that Chelsea could make a sensational swap deal offer as they attempt to sign a new striker this summer.

According to Gianluca Di Marzio via 90min, the West London club are keen to sign Napoli star Victor Osimhen this summer and have made contact with the Italian side.

Osimhen is a target for Chelsea this summer

The report claims that Chelsea are considering offering striker Romelu Lukaku as part of a deal for Osimhen, as they look to avoid paying the Nigeria international’s release clause.

The release clause would have to be paid up front, and Chelsea are therefore willing to offer Napoli a fee in the region of £70-80 million plus Lukaku, and potentially even a young player too.

Osimhen, 25, has scored 75 goals in 130 games for Napoli across all competitions, as well as providing 18 assists.

This season the Nigerian has netted 16 times, including 14 in Serie A.

Lukaku, meanwhile, is currently on loan at fellow Italian side Roma, but the understanding is that there is no agreement in place to make the move permanent this summer.

The Belgian will therefore return to London at the end of the current campaign, and it is claimed that the club have agreed with Lukaku to allow him to leave if an offer of £37 million is received.

That is despite the Blues paying £97 million for the striker when he joined from Inter Milan in 2021.