![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/67\/590x\/secondary\/5036800.jpg?r=1698441460264\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Chelsea have been told they can forget about signing Victor Osimhen in the January transfer window. Napoli sporting director Mauro Meluso has ruled that no players will be sold in the winter market – meaning the Blues will have to look at other striker targets if they want to land a new frontman for Mauricio Pochettino.<\/p>\n
Pochettino has now been handed the reins over transfers and if he wants to sign a new No.9 – the Chelsea hierarchy are expected to fulfil his wish.<\/p>\n
But the market is starved of standout options and Osimhen (24) is among the best names in the shop window alongside Brentford’s Ivan Toney.<\/p>\n
However, Chelsea have refused to sign players over the age of 23 in recent windows gone by, though something has to give if Pochettino feels he requires more experience within his ranks.<\/p>\n
Osimhen is yet to commit his long-term future to Napoli with his current deal set to expire in the summer of 2025.<\/p>\n
Don’t miss… <\/strong> Chelsea boss Pochettino ‘not happy’ as Premier League ruin anniversary with wife[LATEST] <\/strong><\/p>\n He is due to hold further talks over a possible extension with Napoli and his agent Roberto Calenda in the coming weeks but should discussions fail to bear fruit – all signs point towards an end-of-season exit.<\/p>\n Relations have soured ever since Napoli posted two offensive TikToks on the social media platform in September and president Aurelio De Laurentiis claims Osimhen had previously provided indications he was prepared to sign a new deal.<\/p>\n Yet the agreement is yet to have been rubber-stamped and now the 24-year-old’s future hangs in the balance.<\/p>\n Even if they were forced to reluctantly sanction Osimhen’s departure next summer, Napoli would demand a premium fee for their most-valuable asset.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/67\/590x\/secondary\/5036801.jpg?r=1698441464960\")
<\/p>\n\n