Chelsea among ‘host of clubs monitoring’ Lille’s Victor Osimhen — report

When we were preparing to face Lille in the Champions League for the first time earlier this season, Victor Osimhen wasn’t quite yet on everyone’s radar. The man who was inspired by Chelsea’s 2008 Champions League final loss to become a professional footballer is slowly and surely changing that with every goal and game for the Ligue 1 outfit, who are once again challenging for the top three after last season’s surprise second-place finish, their best finish since Eden Hazard and Gervinho led them to a league title in 2011.

Osimhen, who of course started and scored against Chelsea back in October, is now being monitored by “a host of clubs”, who, according to Sky Sports’ understandings, include the likes of Chelsea, Spurs, Liverpool, and others. And while the Nigeria international is “expected to stay for the rest of the season” to help Lille and his own development — barring an offer “too good to refuse” — he could be the next rising star to make the jump from France to England pretty soon.

Having scored against the Blues — outjumping both Zouma and Tomori at the same time — Osimhen’s surely set for Chelsea already of course. So sorry, other teams! (That’s a joke ... mostly?)

Osimhen has slowed down from his early-season blistering form a bit — 7 goals in first 8 league games, 2 goals in the last 8 — but he’s a name we’ll surely be hearing quite a bit in the next few transfer windows. Abraham and Osimhen could be a fun striker combination.