Victor Osimhen sparks new Chelsea transfer demand as Todd Boehly receives $107m instruction

Victor Osimhen scored a hat-trick for Nigeria after speculation surrounded the Napoli star in the summer transfer window.

Osimhen sparked intense chat around what may be next for him with 31 goals in all competitions last season as Napoli won their first Serie A title for 33 years. Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool have all been linked with a move for the 24 year-old, who remained in Naples with the club's owner, Aurelio De Laurentiis, taking a firm stance on the player's future.

Osimhen has continued where he ended last season by scoring three goals in two Serie A games and added three more for his country in a 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Sao Tome and Principe on Sunday night. Nigeria thrashed Sao Tome and Principe 6-0 with the Napoli frontman opening the scoring after 13 minutes.

Ademola Lookman added the Super Eagles' second before Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi bagged six minutes after half-time and Osimhen added two more to cap his hat-trick. Samuel Chukwueze scored Nigeria's final goal six minutes from time.

The former Lille striker's hat-trick set social media alight, with Chelsea supporters demanding their club to make a move for him when the January transfer window opens. The Blues are without an out-and-out centre-forward since Romelu Lukaku's summer transfer window move to AS Roma on loan and he was not a long-term option to start with having spent last season at Inter Milan.

Nicolas Jackson is still getting to grips with the Premier League since his arrival from Villarreal, so Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino knows the number nine position needs filling at the next available opportunity. Osimhen is valued at a whopping £86 million ($107m) by the CIES Football Observatory