Victor Osimhen 'reaches agreement in principle over new Napoli contract'

The Nigeria international has not signed a single extension since arriving in Naples from Lille in 2020, and his current terms are due to expire at the end of next season.

Osimhen's uncertain contract situation and remarkable goalscoring feats in Serie A have led to suggestions that the 24-year-old could be on the move in 2024, with Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United all heavily linked with a swoop.

Next summer's transfer window could have proven to be Napoli's last chance to garner a high fee for Osimhen, whose future has been a major talking point since the season began owing to incidents both on and off the field.

Club president Aurelio de Laurentiis hinted in October that he would not be against selling Osimhen in 2024 if the marksman refused to commit to a new deal, forcing the club to deny that their relationship with the Nigerian was «frosty».

However, having made a breakthrough in talks over a new contract — which was initially discussed in the summer before discussions hit a brick wall — De Laurentiis claimed earlier this month that Osimhen was set to put pen to paper.

Now, journalist Fabrizio Romano reports that Napoli and Osimhen have come to an agreement in principle over a renewal, which will make the 24-year-old one of the Partenopei's highest-paid players of all time.

Osimhen's new terms will only increase his stay for another year until the summer of 2026, though, and Napoli have set a release clause of €130m (£111.7m), which will become active in 2024.

As such, the attacker's new deal will ensure that Napoli will receive significant compensation should he end up seeking