Liverpool could see a huge upgrade in terms of their striking ranks this summer if Darwin Nunez departs the club after a three-year spell on Merseyside - with the Reds being able to sign 'the best striker in the world' if they can land Napoli star Victor Osimhen.
The Premier League champions have spent big this summer, aiming to retain their top-flight crown after ending a five-year hiatus without the prestigious major honour - and with their squad being strengthened, they must take further steps to do so by landing Osimhen, should their current contingent depart.
Osimhen 'On Liverpool's Transfer List' After Transfer Meeting
A deal for the Nigerian talisman could be done
Victor Osimhen
GIVEMESPORT sources revealed earlier this month that Osimhen's name had cropped up in a high-ranking transfer meeting at Anfield, despite other clubs likely being in the race ahead of them for the Nigerian striker.
Liverpool have already spent close to £200million on Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez this summer, but a striker must be next on the agenda, with Nunez likely to be on his way out of the club, as well as Diogo Jota seemingly not being preferred by Arne Slot with just 14 starts in the league for the Portuguese talisman.
Although there was deemed a 'slim chance' of Osimhen ending up in the Premier League, he did reject a £650,000-per-week offer from the Saudi Pro League, and that should still see him end up in the top-flight if Liverpool deem a move to be worth doing for the Reds.
Victor Osimhen's Super Lig statistics - Galatasaray squad ranking
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There is no doubting that Osimhen would be a huge upgrade on Nunez. He is only six months older than his Uruguayan counterpart, but he scored 65 goals in just 108 Serie A games for the Gli Azzurri before departing for Galatasaray on loan last season, as well as notching nine goals in just 17 Champions League games and 10 goals in a lowly 15 Europa League games.
Nunez, by comparison, has a slightly worse record in Europe. 10 goals in 17 Europa League outfits sits alongside 11 goals in 27 games in the Champions League. But it's his worse goals-to-games ratio than Osimhen's Serie A exploits - in an easier division in the Portuguese top-flight - and an unremarkable 25 goals in 95 games in the Premier League that would see Osimhen as a better option for Slot to choose from.
Nunez Talks Could Push Osimhen 'Swap'
The Uruguayan could leave for Napoli, opening the door for Osimhen's arrival in the opposite direction
Darwin Nunez, Man City vs Liverpool
Likely to cost £64million, Osimhen wouldn't be too much of an outlay if Liverpool can shift Nunez - with Napoli coincidentally being interested in him - and their team would be complete with a proven goalscorer spearheading them.
Napoli remain in 'active talks' for Nunez, according to Fabrizio Romano, and although there is a significant gap in valuation between Liverpool and what they want for the former Benfica star, he's still the top target for Antonio Conte, who wants someone to partner Romelu Lukaku and Scott McTominay to reclaim the Serie A title once again.
With Osimhen seemingly out of the picture at the Estadio Diego Armando Maradona, a potential swap deal could be done to force a deal over the line and leave both clubs satisfied with their summer recruitment.
Statistics courtesy of WhoScored. Correct as of 29-06-25.
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