Jose Fonte, a former defender for Southampton and West Ham United, has blasted Chelsea for not acquiring Victor Osimhen, “the next Didier Drogba,” during the January transfer window.

Osimhen has been strongly connected to Chelsea since the summer of last year, but the Blues were unable to lure him to Stamford Bridge.

Osimhen ultimately signed a season-long loan from Serie A team Napoli to Galatasaray.

However, Fonte thinks that if Chelsea had signed the Nigerian striker, he could have been “another Drogba.”

“A striker like Victor Osimhen is desperately needed by Chelsea,” Fonte told BoyleSports.

“Take a look at Chelsea and all of their previous greats. He might be another Didier Drogba for them as a striker. He has won.

Drogba is a legend, but [Osimhen] has speed, strength, and technical skill. They play in a different way. He is a real pain for defenders and wins his duels.

Fonte went on: “I thought it was stupid that no Premier League club had recruited Victor Osimhen when I watched him move to Galatasaray.

“I believe Osimhen will intimidate defenders once he joins the Premier League. He is strong, quick, shrewd, and aggressive.

“I’m sure he was lenient toward me as a friend at nearly forty, but it was still a nightmare when I played against him in the Champions League.”