One of Liverpool’s main areas to strengthen this summer will be their strikeforce.
Although the Reds have Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz, who are able to fill in as number nines, they’re far better in their natural position of left wing.
Indeed, Liverpool also have Darwin Nunez to lead their line, but given his form throughout the 2024-25 campaign and his recent links with an exit, he’s hardly reliable.
Of course, now that Florian Wirtz has arrived, Arne Slot will have to figure out which of his players he’d like to sell to fund the moves of any new arrivals.
Arne Slot on the Liverpool touchline during their game against Leicester.
Photo by Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images
Numerous strikers have been linked with an Anfield switch over the last few weeks, but there’s one in particular that has piqued the interest of fans.
Napoli want Federico Chiesa, Darwin Nunez and some money for the transfer of Victor Osimhen
Alexander Isak has been touted as Liverpool’s preferred option this summer, but with Newcastle unlikely to sell, their attention may have to turn elsewhere.
One name that has been mentioned is Napoli’s Victor Osimhen, who is looking for a way out of the Serie A.
And, as per a report from Italian journalist Valter Di Maggio, it seems like the Naples-based club have a rather large fee in their minds to sanction his exit.
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“The English club wants Osimhen and Napoli from this point of view does not make any discounts on the clause, therefore asking for €75m as per the contract,” he said on Radio Kiss Kiss as summarised by Area Napoli.
“The sporting director of the Neapolitan club, Giovanni Manna, has tried to ask for information for the two Reds forwards, namely Darwin Nunez and the Italian former Juventus player Federico Chiesa.
“Liverpool would have opened up to Napoli by proposing an equal exchange between the players involved in this operation.
“Aurelio De Laurentiis, however, has other ideas and is not listening: the president of the blue club is asking for Chiesa, Nunez and €20m for Osimhen’s registration.”
Victor Osimhen of Galatasaray celebrates after score a goal during the Ziraat Turkish Cup Quarter-Final match between Fenerbahce and Galatasaray at Ulker Stadium
Photo by Isa Terli/Anadolu via Getty Images
Liverpool should try and figure out a swap deal with Napoli for Victor Osimhen
Osimhen has been one of the most talked-about strikers over the last few years.
Last summer, there were clubs linked with throwing in massive bids worth around £100million for the striker, but after he tried to force his way out of Napoli, he ended up at Galatasaray on loan for a year.
This summer, Osimhen has been linked with a Liverpool move, with Al-Hilal also rumoured to be interested.
Although Liverpool wouldn’t be able to offer him as much as Galatasaray or Al-Hilal, the fact that they’ll be challenging for every possible competition is likely enough to tempt him to move.
And, the fact that Antonio Conte wants both Chiesa and Nunez means that a deal could end up being struck.
Player Games Goals Assists
Darwin Nunez 47 7 7
Victor Osimhen 41 37 8
The 2024-25 seasons of Darwin Nunez and Victor Osimhen in numbers.
Granted, both players and €20million (£17.1million) seems a tad excessive, but if a deal for Nunez and some money can be agreed upon, it feels like that would be a good move for both parties.
Only time will tell what the future holds, but at the moment, it’s anyone’s guess what could happen.