Chelsea chief Boehly may regret failed £23m bid as striker shortlist shrinks

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Chelsea may live to regret a failed bid for Antonio Nusa as reports claim at least 10 top clubs are interested in signing him. The 18-year-old is unlikely to move in January to decrease the Blues’ striker shortlist again following news that Victor Osimhen is set to sign a new Napoli contract.

Chelsea spent over £400million on new signings in the summer transfer window. But Mauricio Pochettino wants to go back into the market in January to strengthen up front.

The Blues boss made it clear after Sunday’s defeat to Everton that his side are not clinical enough in front of goal and must attempt to solve that issue in the market. Osimhen and Brentford frontman Ivan Toney have been linked with Chelsea for several months.

But they are not the only players Todd Boehly and his recruitment staff are eyeing up. The Standard claims there are five strikers on the shortlist ahead of January.

Osimhen and Toney are joined by Viktor Gyokeres, Roony Bardghji and Nusa. However, that list appears to be shortening by the day.

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Osimhen is widely reported to be set to sign a new contract at Napoli, extending his deal until 2026. He will have a release clause of around £112million and it is more than likely he will stay in Naples until the end of the season at least.

But another name that can be potentially scratched off is that of Nusa. Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano claims the number of teams interested in the 18-year-old is in double figures.

Chelsea would face a battle convincing the teenager to move to Stamford Bridge over other interested clubs, especially after their poor start to the season. Romano also says movement is not imminent on Nusa and a summer exit would be more likely for the Club Brugge ace.

Boehly may be regretting not going all out for Nusa in the last window. The Standard claims Chelsea had a £23m bid rejected for the young star on deadline day.

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The Norwegian’s stock is only going to rise and the number of teams interested in him will see his price tag increase. Chelsea may have missed out on a top young talent, not only in the summer but also in January and beyond.

Osimhen and Nusa staying put leaves Gyokeres, Toney and Bardghji as the three strikers Chelsea are interested in signing next month. Gyokeres has had a fine start at Sporting Lisbon since joining from Coventry in the summer.

Toney will be free to play again from the middle of January following his ban for breaching the FA’s betting rules. Bardghji, meanwhile, burst onto the scene in this year’s Champions League when he scored a late winner for Copenhagen against Manchester United aged just 17.

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