Manchester United are leading Chelsea in the race to snap up Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, according to CBS Sports reporter Ben Jacobs.

Both Premier League clubs are interested in the Nigerian international but Jacobs claims the forward would favour a move to Old Trafford, after having nearly joined them from Lille three years ago:

“140 to 150 million euros is the ballpark [for Osimhen] because they [Napoli] feel like he’s more than doubled his value since coming to the club. So that’s the difference between him and Kvara who they pay peanuts for.”

“When you sign a player and invest a big fee, which is what Napoli did, they want a financial return if they’re to let the player go. But Osimhen dreams of the Premier League. And I think Manchester United is more likely than Chelsea at this point because Osimhen’s always had one eye on Manchester United. He actually nearly joined them before moving to Napoli, but didn’t because he wasn’t convinced he’d get the game time.”

As Jacobs mentions, Napoli won’t sell Osimhen on the cheap, and it looks almost certain that United will have to break their transfer record in order to sign him this summer.

Whether his team will hold out for as much as €140m (£122m) to €150m (£131m), we shall have to wait and see, but President Aurelio De Laurentiis is known to be a tough negotiator.

A new number nine is top of Red Devils boss Erik ten Hag’s wishlist so, if the club are under new ownership by the summer, there is every chance that Osimhen will be the marquee signing.