Former Chelsea defender, Glen Johnson has claimed that Victor Osimhen is the big signing that the Blues missed out on landing during the most recent summer transfer window.
Osimhen on September 3, 2024 joined Galatasaray on a loan deal after Napoli frustrated him from making his preferred move during the summer transfer window.
It was clear that Paris Saint-Germain really wanted to sign Osimhen but the deal failed to go through before the Nigerian striker had links with a move to either Al Ahli or Chelsea.
Osimhen was thereafter left stranded following the decision of Napoli to drop him from their Serie A squad list for the 2024/25 season.
That would have meant the Super Eagles striker would go no fewer than four months without seeing competitive football action, however, Galatasaray came to his rescue by signing him on loan.
Speaking to Betfred, Johnson was asked if there was a certain player in particular that he believed Chelsea missed out on signing this summer.
“The obvious one would be Victor Osimhen. He was the big name they wanted and didn’t get. They’ve signed loads of youngsters that may not be in the team straight away, despite spending a lot of money on them, and I think Osimhen is the big signing that they’ve missed out on.”
He was also asked why he believed Osimhen didn’t sign for Chelsea this summer. “It’s a weird deal altogether because at one moment, there were supposedly only two teams in the race to sign him and then the window’s shut and he’s moved on loan to a team that wasn’t even in the conversation to sign him.
“I don’t know if the player was asking for too much money or his club was asking for too much money, but it does strike me as a strange move considering the amount of chat there was around him going to Chelsea.”
Osimhen was credited with an assist on his Turkish Süper Lig debut for Galatasaray after the Nigerian striker was denied a stunning goal in a massive win for his side.
Osimhen who joined Galatasaray on a season-long loan from Napoli rendered an assist in the first half as the host defeated Rizespor 5-0 at the Rams Global Stadyumu on Saturday.
After their constant pressing, Galatasaray got their second goal of the game in the 25th minute. A cross was swung in from a set piece and Osimhen met the ball with a fine header .
The ball looked like it was destined for the net but a Galatasaray player, Abdulkerim Bardakci got his foot to it just before it entered the net with Osimhen credited with the assist.
