According to the latest revelations by The Independent, transfer talks between Chelsea Football Club and Napoli for Nigerian striker Victor Osmeon are embroiled in an intricate game. The complexity and multi-layered nature of the high-profile deal, which could take the form of an unprecedented model - a loan + option to buy clause - has delayed negotiations until the final stages of the transfer window.
Reports suggest that the details of Chelsea's personal agreement with Osmeen are still under intense negotiation, with both sides engaged in heated discussions around a number of aspects of the player's salary structure, terms of his likeness rights and the distribution of bonuses. Chelsea have shown a strong interest in the top 9 and are willing to maintain a high degree of flexibility in terms of salary to meet the expectations of Osmeen and his team. However, Osmeen's team insisted on a net income of at least €12 million, a demand that became a major obstacle in the negotiations.
Meanwhile, Napoli, for their part, are desperate to recoup their money through transfer deals this summer as they cannot afford to pay Osmeen's exorbitant salary. The addition of Chelsea to the mix provides an ideal solution for Napoli, and the two sides are even close to agreeing a mutually beneficial player swap involving the permanent transfer of Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku. New Napoli manager Antonio Conte has favored Lukaku, believing that his technical characteristics are highly compatible with the tactical system.
While Lukaku's transfer is close to being finalized, Osmeen's transfer negotiations are still fraught with uncertainty. According to analysts, Chelsea could end up bringing in Osmeen initially on loan with an optional buyout clause. This strategy would provide Chelsea with time to assess Osmeen's suitability and performance, as well as alleviate the club's immediate financial pressure.
Since Burley took over at Chelsea, the club's strategy on contract management has changed significantly, with a greater focus on contractual flexibility and multi-layeredness. This change is well reflected in the Osmeen deal, where the contract not only contains a variety of complex conditions, but also involves sensitive issues such as likeness rights.
