Manchester United are leading the race in the pursuit of Napoli’s Victor Osimhen.

The Nigerian has been turning heads with his prolific goal-scoring form in the 2022-23 season, having found the back of the net on 26 occasions in addition to contributing five assists in all competitions.

The striker’s impressive 21-goal haul in the Italian top flight has been a driving force behind Napoli’s commanding position at the top of the league, where they currently sit a staggering 17 points ahead of second-placed Lazio. However, their hopes of European glory were dashed in the quarter-final stages of the Champions League by AC Milan, despite Osimhen’s best efforts.

With two years remaining on Osimhen’s current deal, his future at Napoli remains unclear, with a number of top-tier clubs including Arsenal vying for his signature.

While Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain have been linked with the 24-year-old forward, it is Man United and Chelsea who are reportedly leading the race.

However, the Red Devils seem to have the upper hand in the race, with sources claiming that Chelsea may struggle to meet Napoli’s lofty asking price in the summer transfer window.

As the summer transfer window looms, Chelsea find themselves facing the daunting task of meeting the Financial Fair Play restrictions that have been imposed on the club due to their lavish spending in recent windows. To do so, the Blues will need to offload a number of players, which could pave the way for a move for Napoli’s Victor Osimhen.

However, Chelsea’s hopes of landing the Nigerian striker may be hampered by their current position in the Premier League table, languishing in 11th place and almost certain to miss out on Champions League football for the upcoming 2023-24 campaign. In contrast, Manchester United, who are also in the race for Osimhen, sit comfortably in fourth place, making them a more attractive destination for the 24-year-old frontman.

The cost of acquiring Osimhen is also likely to be a significant hurdle for both clubs, with a fee in excess of £100m expected.

Osimhen has scored 54 goals and registered 14 assists in 94 appearances for Napoli.