Victor Osimhen Chelsea transfer alternative sends clear message amid striker hunt

Reported Chelsea transfer target Nick Woltemade has sent a message the best way he knows how - by scoring his sixth goal for Germany at this summer's Under-21 European Championships.

Woltemade made a name for himself in the 2024/25 campaign. For VfB Stuttgart he scored 12 and assisted twice in 28 Bundesliga appearances, with Sebastian Hoeneß's team managing to finish ninth.

This didn't go unnoticed because he was given the opportunity to play for the German senior team at the recent Nations League finals, plus as Chelsea are one of numerous top clubs reportedly lining up their transfer interest. According to the rumours, an enquiry had been sent Stuttgart's way about a potential move to join Enzo Maresca's side.

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And if attempting to keep the Blues' attention, Woltemade might just be doing enough as he leads the race for the golden boot at the ongoing U21 Euros based in Slovakia.

After a hat-trick against Slovenia in Germany's group opener, the 23-year-old had followed with two more strikes through to the quarter-finals.

Facing France in the last-four on Wednesday night, Woltemade grabbed his sixth of the tournament by putting his nation two ahead with only 14 minutes played.

Played through one-on-one, his attempted chip received a touch from the onrushing French goalkeeper though he was able to pick up the pieces and smash home into an unguarded net.

Chelsea, with Liam Delap and Nicolas Jackson as their current striker assets, may be watching on with the view to a possible deal taking place.

It is the club's ultimate goal to bolster their attacking options before the start of the 2025/26 campaign in August.

Woltemade's contract at the MHP Arena is said to last until 2028 with no release clause to activate, therefore any suitor would be forced to enter full negotiations to make the signing possible.

He is also an option on the youthful side, which is what Stamford Bridge chiefs have gone for in recent times though they may feel the next step is to add a fully fledged goalscorer to their ranks in order to train up those younger than them.

One such example would be Victor Osimhen, who is returning to Napoli after his Galatasaray loan spell - a move he had to make as a 2024 transfer to Chelsea did not materialise.

The Serie A champions have supposedly set a €75m (£63m) asking price but have so far only had Al-Hilal willing to match that, with the player himself rejecting the interest in hopes of a Premier League switch instead.

The Saudi Arabian club's boss is said to have made another phone call in an attempt to sway Osimhen's thinking.

Meanwhile the Blues will likely have one more chance to watch Woltemade in action at the tournament as the Germans are on course to reach Saturday's final.

That would be against Lee Carsley's England U21s in the final, as they had booked their place by beating the Netherlands in their own semi-final.

It will be a repeat of the final group stage fixture, in which Woltemade did not score but the Germans won 2-1 with two first-half strikes.

Carsley's squad features Chelsea midfielder Teddy Sharman-Lowe and a number of the academy's former prospects.