There was a point during the overtures of the summer transfer window that Liverpool were clear ahead of any hopefuls in the race for Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike.
Liverpool are considered frontrunners in the race to sign the French forward, but Chelsea and Manchester United are also locked in negotiations with the Bundesliga club and the player's representatives.
hugo-ekitike-frankfurt
It's an open race, and one which the Anfield side will be frustrated that they cannot advance in, given Darwin Nunez still sits firmly in Arne Slot's squad. The Uruguayan striker is expected to leave the club this summer but, despite interest from Serie A and the Saudi Pro League, real progress has not yet happened.
Luckily, not much should change on the Ekitike front just yet, with his employers standing firm on their €100m (£85m) price tag - a valuation they don't seem keen to meet.
Since Nunez is all but set to go, it would be wise for the Reds to search for alternatives, and Viktor Gyokeres is a name that has been bandied about.
Liverpool's interest in Viktor Gyokeres
Newcastle United qualified for the Champions League and does have the capacity to double down on their staggering £150m valuation of Alexander Isak.
Thus, alternatives like Ekitike and Sporting's Gyokeres have been mapped out, and the latter is certainly an attractive option, given he has scored 97 goals across 102 appearances for the Portuguese club.
Sporting CP's Viktor Gyokeres kisses the trophy as he celebrate after winning the Taca de Portugal
Arsenal and Manchester United have both shown more concrete interest than Liverpool in recent weeks, even if the Reds are keen, with the Gunners sure to be emboldened by the striker's intimation that he would rather move to the Emirates than Old Trafford.
There's no doubt that Gyokeres would prove an upgrade on Nunez, whose natural talent hasn't been enough to make things click in England's top flight, but the former is 27 and Sporting chiefs want his €100m (£85m) release clause met, which would put him in the same park as Ekitike.
Sporting CP's Viktor Gyokeres celebrates scoring their third goal to complete his hat-trick
Liverpool reportedly made contact with the Sweden international back in May, though there are concerns that his ridiculous rate of scoring would struggle to translate into Premier League life, and that's why Liverpool have made contact with an exciting upgrade.
Liverpool open talks for Nunez replacement
As per the latest from TEAMtalk, Liverpool believe they have found a way to offload Nunez and solve their quest for a number nine at the same time.
Indeed, that's by offering the 25-year-old, along with Federico Chiesa, to Napoli in return for Victor Osimhen, with talks having already happened regarding a potential swap deal.
Osimhen, 26, has just completed a successful loan spell with Galatasaray after a divorce from the Naples side, and his summer transfer is a given.
Valued at £60m, the Nigerian goalscorer is more affordable than the other forwards we've mentioned, and if Nunez, Chiesa or both are included in the package, he would be cheaper still.
Why Liverpool should sign Victor Osimhen
Frugality has been something that dissenters have targeted FSG with for a while, but who can say Liverpool's owners have been anything but ambitious in the market thus far this month?
Even so, there's a lot going on in the Anfield offices, and the coffers aren't inexhaustible. Osimhen represents an affordable deal for an elite-level marksman.
Galatasaray's Victor Osimhen celebrates after the match-1
Ekitike has a high ceiling, but the Frenchman isn't as refined as Napoli's man right now, and perhaps Osimhen is also more accomplished than Gyokeres, who has yet to prove himself at age 27 in one of Europe's top five leagues.
Indeed, the rangy centre-forward has been hailed for his "world-class" finishing by Sky Sports' Dougie Critchley, and that's something Liverpool have been lacking at the front of the ship to be sure.
Victor Osimhen - Past Five Seasons (all comps)
Season
24/25 - Galatasaray
23/24 - Napoli
22/23 - Napoli
21/22 - Napoli
20/21 - Napoli
Stats via Transfermarkt
But goalscoring isn't Osimhen's sole forte. Powerful, robust and more dynamic than he might seem at a glance, the £83k-per-week striker likes to drive forward with the ball at his feet and make things happen for his teammates.
Make no mistake, Gyokeres is a high-level finisher and complete in his forward play, but Liverpool would be gambling in bringing him to the Premier League over someone more proven in Osimhen. The Premier League champions, after all, need the best of the best.
Napoli star Victor Osimhen
As per FBref, he ranked among the top 4% of forwards across Europe last season for shot-creating actions, the top 18% for progressive carries and the top 16% for ball recoveries per 90.
Shot-creating actions are pieces of play that lead to a shot. These include moments such as a pass, take-on or foul being drawn.
This shows that he's mobile and efficient in utilising his athleticism, not just standing as a target man in spite of his prowess in the box.
Silky and stylish and all the rest, Osimhen would be a credit to Liverpool's first team, bringing a fiery personality and a winning mentality.
Gyokeres is a physical force of a player himself, but he simply hasn't achieved the same heights as Osimhen despite being a year his junior, and given that he would cost more, Liverpool will need to consider their options carefully, lest they make the wrong choice and hinder their chances of defending their Premier League title with Slot at the helm and indeed struggle to conquer trophies on tournamental fronts.
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