Chelsea Transfer News: Victor Osimhen vs Samu Omorodion - what do the stats say?

Following the arrivals of Tosin Adarabioyo, Omari Kellyman, Marc Guiu, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Renato Veiga and Filip Jorgensen, Chelsea are turning their attention to signing a new centre-forward this summer. 

The out-of-favour Romelu Lukaku has returned from a reasonably successful loan spell in Serie A with Roma, and is attracting the interest of new Napoli boss Antonio Conte. As such, Chelsea have asked the question about the Gil Azzurri’s star striker Victor Osimhen, during discussions. 

Those talks are said to remain ongoing, but in the meantime, the Blues have reached the advanced stages of a deal to sign Atletico Madrid striker Samu Omorodion, who spent last season on loan with Deportivo Alaves. 

Omorodion’s name came up in discussions with the Spanish giants over the sale of Conor Gallagher, which is now all set to go through, and, at the time of writing, it would appear that the 20-year-old is rivalling Osimhen as Chelsea’s priority attacking target. 

Some reports had even suggested that the London club have not ruled out signing both strikers this summer, in the hopes of seriously bolstering Enzo Maresca’s frontline for the coming season. 

Here, we’ve taken a look at how the two players compare, and the numbers behind their league performances last season. 

As would be expected, Osimhen - the more experienced and established forward - outperforms Omorodion in just about every attacking category, including goals and assists, despite making 10 fewer league appearances last term. 

The Nigeria international struggled with injury and spent time away with his national teammates at the Africa Cup of Nations, but still turned in a largely impressive season, even if he may not have reached the 26-goal heights of the Scudetto-winning campaign prior. 

Omorodion, meanwhile, in his first ever senior league season, started the campaign as a Granada player, making one league start (in which he scored), before joining Atletico Madrid for around €5million. 

Then still a teenager, Omorodion was immediately sent out on loan to Deportivo Alaves, where he made 34 league appearances - of which 21 were starts - netting eight goals and providing one assist for a side that eventually finished 10th. 

Osimhen and Omorodion are similar in a number of ways; they are both strong in the air, and have developed WhoScored strengths for ‘headed attempts’ at goal, while they both struggle with the ball at their feet, hence WhoScored weaknesses for ‘holding on to the ball’.

In front of goal, Osimhen is evidently the more clinical finisher, with a 16.6% conversion rate compared to Omorodion’s 13.4% return. The Napoli marksman also takes more regular attempts at goal; his 4.1 shots per 90 were bettered only by Dusan Vlahovic and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in Serie A last term. 

Despite both strikers missing their fair share of big chances last season, Osimhen underperformed his Expected Goals figure by just 1.85, as opposed to Omorodion’s underperformance of more than four goals - a slightly striking figure that is unlikely to fill Chelsea supporters with confidence. 

In many ways, however, a comparison of the two is a disservice to each player given their current standing in the game. Osimhen has established himself as one of the continent’s finest goal scorers, and would be expected to hit the ground running immediately for the Blues. 

Omorodion, on the other hand, will be seen as a project for Enzo Maresca, and if signed alongside Osimhen, could have the perfect mentor at Stamford Bridge.