Marcel Desailly urges Chelsea to chase Osimhen after £65m Jackson deal

£65million has already changed hands as Nicolas Jackson moved to Aston Villa, yet Chelsea legend Marcel Desailly is still urging the Blues to chase another front‑line target – Arsenal’s Victor Osimhen – before the summer window shuts.

Desailly told Metro via SportsCasting that Osimhen “brings spirit and respect” and can add a touch of controversy that Chelsea need. Arsenal have been in recent talks with the Nigeria international and he remains open to a Premier League switch. Desailly believes the Blues lack a proper number‑nine and that Osimhen would fill that void.

Blues start season with Pedro

João Pedro continued his resurgence from last season, leading the Blues attack against Fulham on Monday. He got on the scoresheet in a 3‑2 victory that opened the campaign. The performance underscored Chelsea’s intent to diversify their attacking options.

Danny Welbeck has also been brought in to provide another option up top. Meanwhile, Liam Delap departed after just one season, joining Nottingham Forest. The departures and arrivals illustrate Chelsea’s ongoing reshuffle of forward personnel.

Market moves and Chelsea’s options

The £65million Jackson transfer underlines the premium on strikers, and RB Leipzig are reportedly negotiating for Marc Guiu. Chelsea nearly secured Osimhen two summers ago while he was at Napoli, but the deal fell through and he spent the last two seasons at Galatasaray. Arsenal’s recent pursuit and Desailly’s endorsement keep the Nigeria international firmly in the conversation.

Picture: Desailly speaking about the need for a new striker during his interview. Get ahead of the start of the season with our weekly football newsletter. Chelsea return to Premier League action on Sunday, hosting Brighton at Stamford Bridge.