Enzo Maresca opposes £110m Victor Osimhen signing for Chelsea
Chelsea’s new head coach, Enzo Maresca, has reportedly decided not to go after Napoli’s prolific striker Victor Osimhen, with the Nigerian being an important target for club owner Todd Boehly.
The £110 million price tag and Osimhen’s goal-scoring prowess have not swayed Maresca, who appears to have a different vision for Chelsea’s attacking team.
Maresca, a surprise choice after Mauricio Pochettino’s departure, quickly gained the faith of Chelsea fans. The Italian, coached by Pep Guardiola, brings a similar technical approach to Stamford Bridge, favoring flowing, possession-based play.
Considering Osimhen’s impressive 48-goal record over the last two Serie A seasons, Maresca believes the striker’s style does not fit his tactical intentions.
The head coach prefers a forward who can drop deep, link play, and contribute to the team’s overall pressing strategy, qualities he believes Osimhen lacks.
This concept is consistent with Maresca’s recent stay at Leicester, when he used Kelechi Iheanacho and changed the positions of Jamie Vardy and Patson Daka to fit his system.
The choice to pass on Osimhen shows Maresca’s intention to value a cohesive team structure over individual scoring abilities.
At Leicester, he was often chastised for his repeated selection of Patson Daka, but he liked Daka’s pressing skills, indicating his preference for forwards who can help defensively and connect with midfielders.
With Romelu Lukaku’s potential move to Napoli and a swap deal involving Osimhen off the table, Maresca will probably continue his search for a striker capable of filling these exact positions.
This strategy shows his commitment to developing a balanced squad capable of executing his strategic vision, even if it means sacrificing a prominent signing like Osimhen.
Maresca’s choice shows his commitment to shape Chelsea into a team that values tactical discipline and teamwork, with each player fitting effortlessly into his system.
See More:
- Chelsea interested in signing Las Palmas goalkeeper Alvaro Valles
- Chelsea to announce new head coach on Monday after contract signing
