Chelsea gain 'front of the queue' advantage over Newcastle United and Arsenal in £85m mega transfer deal

Chelsea have reportedly been handed an advantage in their bid to see off a number of Premier League rivals in the race to sign Napoli striker Victor Osimhen.

Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport have delivered a major update on Osimhen's long-term future with the reigning Serie A champions after his agent and Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis ‘sat around a table and reopened the door for the renewal'.

The striker's current deal is set to come to an end in the summer of 2025 but the report suggestions negotiations revolve around a possible one-year extension that would see Osimhen's salary increased to around £8.5m-a-year and would introduce a release clause of over £86m placed into the new agreement.

The report names several clubs as possible suitors for Osimhen as they look to tempt the Nigeria international away from the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. Premier League quartet Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool and Newcastle United are revealed as interested parties along with Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain.

However, it is Chelsea that are said to be 'in the lead' to sign Osimhen if he does opt to leave Napoli over the near future and there is also a suggestion the striker has 'always been a fan' of the Blues, meaning he would be open to a move to Stamford Bridge.

Osimhen was actually the subject of a reported £120m bid from a club in the Saudi Arabia Pro League during the summer in a move that would have seen the 24-year-old earn a sizeable weekly wage that would have far surpassed what he earns at Napoli.

Osimhen revealed why he rejected that offer in a recent interview with former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel, saying: "What was said was true, I had talks, in August that week was a huge one, a huge decision for me to take, but I actually put it in God’s hands.  But the more I said no to these people (in Saudi Arabia) the more they increased it and increased it, it was literally like, ‘Wow’, seeing these things.

"I spoke with the people in charge and we spoke about it with my club and we saw what we could do, we decided, me and them and I told them, ‘I like these people, I want to stay, I don’t think I want to leave for now’. They understand where I’m coming from but they never gave up until their own transfer window (closed).

"I said to them even before we played the first game of the season, ‘It’s done’, I really didn’t want to go back thinking, of course it’s a huge one, an amazing one that’s going to change my life but of course I had to make the decision that’s good for my career too. As much as we play football for money there’s more that comes with it."

Whether more will come in the Premier League with Chelsea remains to be seen. The Blues are back in action this weekend, and will be desperate to find some goals when they take on Sheffield United at Stamford Bridge. The visitors are riding somewhat of a new manager bounce, following the re-appointment of fan favourite Chris Wilder, and will be looking to cause a big upset on Saturday afternoon.