Chelsea have been boosted by pursuing new strikers, as their key targets love to join them, whether they achieve Champions League football next season.
Chelsea Seal Giant Man United’s Champions League Place victory in the race
A 20-minute strike from full-time sealed Enzo Maresca’s precious three-pointer on Friday night, with the Spaniards taking Chelsea’s only goal 1-0 win over Man United.
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Chelsea held a meeting with a £700 million rival forward who is said to be hoping to take part.
The people of West London could go for him this summer.
The victory at Stamford Bridge puts Chelsea in a very good position heading into the final Premier League game of the season against Nottingham Forest, and Maresca knows that a victory at the City Ground will guarantee Champions League football next season, even if Nuno Espirito Santo’s side beat West Ham on Sunday.
“It’s very important. At this stage of the season, it’s important to win the game,” Maresca said of Chelsea’s 1-0 victory over Man United.
Race for Champions League Qualifications | point |
|---|---|
2. Arsenal | 68 |
3. Newcastle United | 66 |
4. Chelsea | 66 |
5. Aston Villa | 66 |
6. Man City | 65 |
7. Nottingham Forest | 62 |
“We’ll also be careful about how we win the game. I think we struggled with the ball tonight. I didn’t think they were that aggressive, so I was watching the other teams’ five, six, seven games.
“I think we created enough chances between the first half and the second half that we deserve to win the game.
“It’s certainly very important, but the reason I was so happy in the end is that United left City and drew the city from home, painted it with Liverpool and painted it with Arsenal, so they know how to play against a big team.
“The reason I was happy is because they beat a team that was hard to beat, especially against Arsenal, Liverpool and City.”
The importance of a top five finish cannot be kept understated, especially when it comes to club transfer plans. Maresca has already confirmed that European status will have a direct impact on summer adoption.
That being said, there is one target who was eager to travel to West London anyway – Victor Osimhen, the exile of Naples.
The 172,000-pound marksman currently on loan at Galatasaray was Chelsea’s top target before temporarily switching to the Turkish Spur Rig Giants last summer, but the move ultimately failed to materialize.
According to journalist Simon Phillips, Chelsea continues racing for him this year, and it is believed that even if they don’t compete in Europe’s most prestigious competition, Osimhen is still hoping to join the Blues.
“Chelsea is ‘still there’ for Napoli striker Victor Osimen,” Phillips said. “The player has always been keen to join Chelsea regardless of Champions League football, and he is still enthusiastic. His contracts worked hard last summer, and our belief from insiders is that his wage demands are not astronomical as the media portrays.
“Chelsea can easily return to trading, and our sources believe it’s not that difficult to reach an agreement.”
However, the 26-year-old is still expensive and Chelsea will have to break the wage structure, Phillips later explained.
Still, Osimhen’s goalscoring form over the past few seasons is highly suggestive of upgrading Maresca’s striker options.