Former England international Shaun Wright-Phillips has weighed in on the growing speculation surrounding Chelsea’s potential pursuit of Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen.
The Napoli forward, currently on a season-long loan at Turkish champions Galatasaray, has been linked with a move away from Naples, with Chelsea reportedly showing renewed interest in the Nigerian striker.
However, Wright-Phillips, a former Queens Park Rangers winger, believes Chelsea’s focus should not be on bolstering their attack with a player like Osimhen. Instead, he argues that the Blues need to address their defensive shortcomings first and foremost.
BREAKING: Former Manchester City and Chelsea winger Shaun Wright-Phillips has retired from football at the age of 37. pic.twitter.com/HLlBjOy2uC
— SPORTbible (@sportbible) August 24, 2019
“Right now, Chelsea’s biggest problem is their defence,” Wright-Phillips told Sportscasting.com, as quoted by Metro. “They let Thiago Silva go, but didn’t replace him, and that’s left them vulnerable. They need more experience at the back, not another striker.”
Wright-Phillips pointed out that Chelsea’s attack, led by Nicolas Jackson, has not been the issue, with the team showing an ability to score goals.
“They’re not struggling to score goals—that’s not the problem,” he continued. “The real issue is conceding goals. If they can sort out those defensive mistakes, they’ll be a completely different team.”
While Osimhen has been in excellent form for Galatasaray, Wright-Phillips is of the opinion that Chelsea should prioritize defensive reinforcements in the next few transfer windows.
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This comes after a shaky start to the season for Chelsea, who have struggled with consistency at the back.
Although Wright-Phillips acknowledges Osimhen’s ability to thrive in the Premier League, he remains unconvinced that Chelsea’s immediate focus should be on signing a new striker. Instead, he believes strengthening the defense is the more pressing need.
