Liverpool chasing “monster” £60m Isak alternative

Darwin Nunez is held in excessive regard at Liverpool. It is maybe the fanbase’s predilection towards their Uruguayan, as soon as billed as a club-record man, that has saved him on the books for therefore lengthy. One other character to have adopted his pathway may not obtain the identical heat, encouragement.

Definitely, he flattered to deceive throughout his maiden time period within the Premier League, solely scoring 9 objectives after being entrusted with a starring position by Jurgen Klopp, who was enamoured by Nunez’s 2021/22 Champions League marketing campaign with Benfica.

He improved the next 12 months, notching 32 objective contributions throughout all competitions and lifting the Carabao Cup throughout a resurgent 12 months for membership and participant. However there was nonetheless one thing lacking.

The arrival of Arne Slot bespoke a brand new chapter, and it was one thing Nunez wanted to harness. Nonetheless, the 25-year-old is now on the market after his third time period on Merseyside, having scored solely seven objectives final season, awarded simply the one begin within the league since Boxing Day.

At occasions unstoppable; at all times unpredictable. However Nunez is a maverick even to the inside workings of his personal thoughts, and he is proved a nut too powerful to crack even for Slot.

Liverpool want a brand new striker. That is clear.

Liverpool planning to signal a brand new striker

It was one thing of a shock when information broke on Monday night that Newcastle United need to shut a deal for Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike.

Liverpool followers is likely to be excited by this, although Ekitike has been amongst FSG’s prime targets this summer season, for it casts Alexander Isak’s future at St. James’ Park into some type of doubt. May the 2 actually cohabit at quantity 9 for the Magpies?

However the Sweden star is valued at £200m, and the Reds may need been inclined to show their consideration to Viktor Gyokeres, who had scored 97 objectives throughout two seasons for Sporting Lisbon.

Alas, Isak’s worldwide teammate is sure for Arsenal.

Nonetheless, Liverpool’s checklist of choices on the entrance of the ship extends additional than the aforementioned, with considered one of Europe’s most prolific marksmen on the radar.

Certainly, in response to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, that checklist has Victor Osimhen’s identify on it, with Napoli determined to dump the Nigeria worldwide this summer season. A breakdown in his relationship with the Neapolitan outfit led to the ahead’s departure on mortgage to Galatasaray final summer season.

Osimhen is believed to have a price ticket within the area of £60m, and whereas Galatasaray are pushing to seal the 26-year-old on a everlasting deal, Liverpool’s monetary and sporting benefits might maintain sway, ought to sporting director Richard Hughes want to take the curiosity up a gear.

Why Liverpool ought to signal Victor Osimhen

Liverpool know that Luis Diaz might depart Anfield this summer season, with Bayern Munich having seen an official proposal knocked again and the Colombian hoping to finish a transfer away.

If he goes, Liverpool might want to signal a high-cost substitute. That performs into the attractiveness of a deal for Osimhen, who is relatively reasonably priced.

Furthermore, he is confirmed throughout various years in Ligue 1 and the Italian prime flight, really profitable the Serie A in 2022/23, topped the Italian Gamers’ Participant of the Yr after his 26-goal marketing campaign.

Final season, the 27-year-old Gyokeres, on paper, may need outstripped his African positional peer considerably, however Osimhen nonetheless cast a surprising season for himself, and he is confirmed at a better stage than Arsenal’s new recruit, who’s older in addition to.

Actually, take Ekitike into the equation too, and you may see that Osimhen actually is likely to be the one to go for between the 2.

Liverpool is likely to be pissed off by Newcastle’s ostensible benefit within the race for Ekitike, however the Frenchman is a uncooked and unfinished article, albeit one with loads of clean script to jot down a glowing profession for himself.

However Osimhen is confirmed, tried and examined. He is among the finest within the enterprise, with statistician Statman Dave even declaring him as “one of the best striker in the marketplace” earlier in 2025.

Signing considered one of Ekitike or Isak is little doubt a tantalising thought for these of a Liverpool persuasion, however it’s one which can not come to fruition.

And even so, with sights set on Osimhen, who’s indisputably extra full and completed than Ekitike at this cut-off date and has the instruments to rival Newcastle’s talisman on English shores.

It is what Liverpool want to remain forward of the curve. They’ve had excessive potential. They’ve invested in Nunez. And now, with the Uruguay worldwide heading off for pastures new, the Reds want somebody able to main the road with the conviction and high quality of a world-class participant, prepared to throw down the gauntlet and problem Gyokeres, Isak and Erling Haaland for that prized place.

He is a “monster” within the remaining third, as described by analyst Ben Mattinson, with a strong-sinew physicality and a deceptively cellular strategy which denotes his suitability in Slot’s system, prepared to interchange and create required, creating some layered and shifting frontline that may overwhelm opponents, hold defenders guessing.

It might be a mistake to enter the brand new season with Nunez nonetheless inserted as Liverpool’s main striker. Oh, he is well-liked and at occasions a chaotic bundle of power, however Slot should be ruthless if he is to defend his Premier League title, with rivals solely strengthening this summer season. Gyokeres is proof of that.

Fortunately, Liverpool’s head coach has had no downside making a tricky name for the higher good of his crew to this point.