Liverpool could be back in the race to sign Victor Osimhen this summer.
Journalist Alfredo Pedulla recently revealed via his Twitter account that the player’s new representatives are yet to agree a deal with Napoli, despite Goal reporting earlier this week that the player was all set for a move to the San Paolo. According to a Le 10 Sport report from earlier this year, Liverpool were thought to be in negotiations over a possible move, and Pedulla also claimed that talks with Manchester United and Liverpool have indeed taken place, with the Reds having a greater level of contact with Osimhen’s agent.
The Nigerian forward had a fine 2019/20 season, scoring 18 and assisting six in all competitions. That includes 13 goals in 27 appearances for Lille in Ligue 1 this term (as per Transfermarkt.co.uk) as well as two strikes in five in this season’s Champions League, with one of those coming in the club’s defeat at the hands of Frank Lampard’s Chelsea.
Osimhen moved to France from Belgian side RSC Charleroi in a deal worth £12.6m back in August 2019 (via Transfermarkt.co.uk). The 21-year-old’s average performance rating in the league this season was 7.14/10 according to WhoScored, while the player is said to be valued at £24.3m.
TIF Thoughts…
Given that Napoli were reportedly set to pay €81m (£73.7m) for the player, we can assume that if Liverpool are looking to land the forward, they will be expected to pay significantly more than his aforementioned transfer value.
Would you like to see Liverpool sign Victor Osimhen?
Yes
No
Liverpool recently pulled out of the race to sign Timo Werner this summer and Jurgen Klopp recently suggested in an interview with Sky Germany (via inews.co.uk) that it wouldn’t be right to spend such a significant amount of money on a player after having held discussions with the current group regarding ‘salary waivers’.
Taking that into account, we believe it to be unlikely that the Reds will make a move for the Lagos-born forward unless Lille are willing to do a deal for something closer to the £24.3m he is valued at.