Joao Pedro was awarded Chelsea‘s Player of the Season after an excellent year for the Blues. However, he wasn’t called up by Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil’s World Cup campaign, and Chelsea still need a new striker.
It’s been a difficult year for the west Londoners, who sacked Manchester City-bound Enzo Maresca in January and had to fire Liam Rosenior before the end of the season after an erratic three-month tenure.
A ninth-place Premier League finish is unacceptable for a club like Chelsea, who will not play in Europe next season. Xabi Alonso‘s appointment could prove a game-changer for the Blues, arriving with more power to wield than any of his predecessors under the BlueCo regime.
One course is immutable, though: Stamford Bridge needs a new striker, an out-and-out number nine.
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Alonso is a fantastic appointment. Here is a coach who can guide Chelsea back into the Champions League and toward the title-winning heights that are expected at this club.
However, strategic manoeuvres have fallen by the wayside in recent years, and Chelsea can ill-afford another big-money bungle after falling behind their rivals.
Perhaps that’s why Todd Boehly and Co are interested in signing Victor Osimhen this summer. The Nigerian is one of the best strikers in the world, but Turkish outlet Sabah report that Galatasaray would be willing to sell him for a record-breaking €150m (£130m) fee.
After missing out on the former Napoli striker in 2024, despite coming within a whisker, Chelsea will be confident that they can secure his signature, should they manage to bypass Galatasaray’s exorbitant demands.
Why Osimhen will end Delap’s Chelsea career
Delap did not enjoy a standout maiden season at Chelsea. The powerful centre-forward joined the club for £30m last summer after Ipswich Town’s relegation; Chelsea won that jam-packed race.
But, in hindsight, perhaps he should have headed elsewhere, having too often failed to produce the goods for Maresca and then Rosenior and finally Calum McFarlane. In fact, the 23-year-old only scored one Premier League goal all season, missing four big chances.
Osimhen would trump him, and then some. Chelsea need a sharper attacking edge, someone to contrast with Pedro. When considering that Enzo Fernandez is angling for a summer exit, it’s clear that Osimhen could be a first-class signing for a side looking to bounce back.
|
Chelsea’s Top Scorers (2025/26) |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Player |
Apps |
Goals |
|
Joao Pedro |
50 |
20 |
|
Enzo Fernandez |
54 |
15 |
|
Cole Palmer |
34 |
11 |
|
Pedro Neto |
52 |
10 |
|
Estevao |
36 |
8 |
|
Alejandro Garnacho |
43 |
8 |
Described as “one of the best strikers in the world” by former international teammate Peter Etebo, Osimhen is leagues above Delap. For Galatasaray, the 27-year-old has scored 59 goals and supplied 16 assists across 74 matches.
Accomplished across a whole host of European nations and invariably dangerous in the Champions League, Osimhem is the real deal all right, a forward who could make all the difference as Chelsea look to bounce back.
Recent reports have suggested that Chelsea are prepared to cut their losses on Delap and allow him to search for a new club. It would be for the best, and if Osimhen replaces him, surely the London club would take a giant leap back toward the ascendancy.
Osimhen, after all, has proven himself at the highest level, and on the continental stage this year, won 5.3 duels per game, also completing 80% of his dribbles.
That points toward a striker who would not only bring a world-class goal threat, but who would add plenty to Chelsea’s build-up patterns, an intelligent and dynamic Delap upgrade to front Alonso’s system.
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