Mikel Obi questions Chelsea for snubbing Victor Osimhen to sign Liam Delap

Former Nigerian midfielder Mikel Obi has chastised Chelsea Football Club for their lack of seriousness in signing his compatriot Victor Osimhen, instead opting to sign Liam Delap.

According to him, Delap is a good striker who proved his worth at Ipswich Town during the 2024/25 season, but his ability to thrive in a top club cannot be guaranteed.

“I just hope that it’s going to be the right decision. I like Liam Delap. He’s a good young striker who works his socks off. Is he a proven goalscorer in the Premier League? Can he do it at a big club like Chelsea? That’s the question. It’s about how the manager works with him and develops him,” he questioned, as reported by the Standard.

The former Chelsea midfielder asserted that Galatasaray striker Osimhen would be a better player to solve the club’s goal-scoring crisis.

Obi stated that Osimhen is a proven striker who can score numerous goals for the Blues to win titles in a season, as compared to an upcoming player.

“With Victor Osimhen, if you want the finished article, if you want someone who can come in straight away, get you goals, win you trophies, put you in the top four, you have to pay the big bucks. That’s what the big clubs do.

“If you want somebody to evolve over the next two, three, four years, which is what the club has done, then that also makes sense. But Chelsea Football Club’s culture is winning, straight away. If you want to win, you have to bring in a Victor Osimhen,” he said.

Chelsea signed the 22-year-old for 30 million euros from Ipswich on a six-year deal.

Chelsea’s move for Osimhen is reported to have stalled following the player’s high wage demands.

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