Chelsea manager explains why club didn’t sign Victor Osimhen

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has explained why the club didn’t push hard to sign Napoli striker Victor Osimnhen in the final hours of the deadline day. Both parties were involved in negotiations in the final days of the transfer window but a deal could not materalise before the Friday deadline which was set at 11 pm.

The Nigerian striker was reportedly demanding £500,000 weekly wage, a sum which was way above Chelsea’s salary budget. Saudi Pro League club Al Ahli were offering Osimnhen a €40m per season contract but he wanted to stay in Europe.

Eventually, both Chelsea and Osimhen failed to agree on terms before the end of the deadline day.

“We want players but we want players that we decide and then the condition has to be our condition. So if the players are not here, then that means the conditions were not good for us,” said Maresca in a press conference.