'Hard to believe' - Ex-Man Utd forward tells Chelsea they are overpaying for Spanish-Nigerian striker

Former Manchester United forward Terry Gibson thinks that Samuel Omorodion is moving to Chelsea for a fee above his true market value, taking into account he is not yet a finished article and struggled to impress in the back end of last season.

Chelsea and Atlético de Madrid have reached a club-to-club agreement for the transfer of the Spain U23 international and the Premier League club have also finalized personal terms with the center forward. 

Omorodion is moving to Stamford Bridge in exchange for £35m as guaranteed fee and will put pen to paper on a seven-year contract, subject to a routine medical.

Gibson has highlighted that £35m is a hefty fee for a striker who managed just 9 league goals in the previous season.

Considering the fact that Atlético de Madrid paid six million euros to sign Omorodion last August, the Sky Sports pundit noted that Chelsea are paying for potential. 

He had some good things to say about Omorodion but at the same time criticized the 20-year-old for his poor conversion rate in his first season in La Liga. 

"I'm incredibly surprised by this to be honest. There is a backdrop to this story as well. First game of last season Omorodion was playing for Granada. He played in the first game of the season and he was a surprise inclusion," Gibson said on Sky Sports.

"He scored against Atlético de Madrid in a 3-1 defeat and they bought him literally before he got on the bus and went back home. They paid the price six million euros.

"Immediately he was loaned to Alavés where we saw the potential was there. He's physical, he's very tall, he's very enthusiastic, likes to run in behind. His hold-up play for a young player is reasonable, it can be better."

He added: "Without being too critical of him because he was 19 years of age, probably needed many chances to score a goal but that's to be expected at that age, we were saying the same about Vinicius when he first started playing for Real Madrid. His finishing wasn't up to the standard that it should be.

"No one is being too critical of Omorodion. It's incredible that Chelsea have lumped in straightaway so Atletico Madrid paid six million euros and they are going to sell him for 30m. They are buying potential, center forwards do cost a lot of money.

"They will be hoping that in the future that the 30 odd million they are paying Atletico is going to be money well spent but it's a tough one to be honest.

"The increase in valuation on the back of 8 goals for Alaves, where he lost his place at the end of the season is hard to believe to be honest."

Omorodion is currently with Spain U23s side at th 2024 Olympic Games in France, where he has been involved n four of the five games played by La Roja. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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