SHOCKING NEWS: coming from Fabrizio Romano, After failing to reach an agreement with Napoli for the signing of Victor Osimhen, Chelsea are now reportedly looking to sign another prolific Nigerian striker. The Blues are said to be interested in victor Boniface, who is currently playing for Bayer Leverkusen in the German league. The 23-year-old has scored 20 goals in 28 appearances for the club, and is said to be attracting interest from a number of European clubs. Chelsea Set Sights on New ‘Nigerian Striker Target’ After Osimhen Talks Collapse – New Transfer Race On.
Chelsea is actively seeking a striker, acknowledging that while Nicolas Jackson’s performance might have been overblown, the Senegalese player has yet to make the desired impact at Stamford Bridge. As a result, the club is once again exploring options in the transfer market, with the intention of splurging on a top-notch number nine. Victor Osimhen emerges as their top priority for this role, but competition from PSG is fierce, as they view the Nigerian as Kylian Mbappe’s successor, bound for Real Madrid.
Another potential alternative is Ivan Toney, although acquiring him won’t be straightforward, given the interest from Arsenal and Manchester United in the Brentford striker. Chelsea may need to broaden their scope for targets, and one emerging option is Victor Boniface, as reported by BILD and reiterated by Christian Falk, the outlet’s chief transfer expert.
Falk stated to CaughtOffside, “Nicolas Jackson has yet to resolve Chelsea’s striker dilemma. Someone else could potentially do so in the future: Victor Boniface, who arrived from Saint-Gilloise in 2023 for €16 million… Contracted until 2028. Currently valued at €40 million. Chelsea are interested, but Bayer Leverkusen is reluctant to sell.”
Osimhen’s Nigerian compatriot demonstrated impressive form, scoring 16 goals and providing eight assists in 23 games before sustaining an adductor injury that will sideline him for several months. When fit, the 23-year-old is regarded as one of Europe’s most promising forwards, although concerns linger regarding his injury history, having already endured two ACL injuries in his relatively young career.
