By Fraser Fletcher, Transfer Correspondent

14th Feb, 2023 | 7:00am

Sources: Chelsea privately told it will take £100m+ record fee to lure top target Victor Osimhen

Chelsea face a huge battle to sign Victor Osimhen in the summer transfer window as Napoli prepare to fight their corner to the end, sources have told Football Insider.

The Blues are in need of a proven and prolific goalscorer, and that is a key priority for the recruitment team at Stamford Bridge.

Osimhen, 24, is widely admired and regarded by many clubs and their executives as the best number nine in Europe right now.

However, Napoli maintain that he is not for sale and privately claim that it would take a club-record fee to draw him away from the Italian giants.

But Graham Potter’s side faced a similar struggle in January for Argentinian midfielder Enzo Fernandez, who was not for sale for almost the entire window before being sold at the eleventh hour for a British-record £106m.

Osimhen’s current contract runs until 2025 ahead of an important summer window.

The Nigeria international has banged in 18 goals from just 22 Napoli appearances this season, with 17 of them, plus four assists, coming from just 18 Serie A matches.

Dusan Vlahovic is also an option who is being tracked by multiple clubs.

The situation at Juventus has made a number of players available and the Serbian front man may be a better option as he would cost Chelsea a lot less.

The 23-year-old’s contract runs until 2026 after joining the Italian giants last January.

Chelsea are on the hunt for another centre-forward option as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang continues to fall down the pecking order.

The forward was removed from the Blues’ Champions League squad for the remainder of the season.

In other news, Mason Mount talks face collapse with Chelsea agreement ‘further away than it’s ever been’.