In a last-ditch effort to persuade the Nigerian striker to return to Turkey, Galatasaray coach Okan Buruk; personally called Victor Osimhen, but Napoli turned down Liverpool’s initial bid for the player.
According to Valter De Maggio, Liverpool’s first offer of an “equal exchange” involving Federico Chiesa and Darwin Nunez for the 26-year-old striker was rejected by the Serie A champions. As Manager, Arne Slot seeks to bolster his team with a high-profile striker after winning the Premier League, Liverpool’s pursuit of Osimhen has gained significant traction. In the Dutchman’s first season at Anfield, the Reds won the title by a margin of ten points.
Liverpool is still committed to acquiring their top target even though they have already spent more than £190 million this summer on five new additions, with Milos Kerkez about to be revealed as the newest to join Giorgi Mamardashvili, Jeremie Frimpong, Armin Pecsi, and Florian Wirtz. Nunez and Chiesa are valued at €60 million and €20 million, respectively, by the Merseyside club, who think this is fair compensation for Osimhen, who has a €75 million release clause. Aurelio De Laurentiis, the president of Napoli, is requesting both players in addition to an extra €20 million in cash adjustment.
Through Area Napoli, De Maggio had this to say to Radio Goal: “There is a market twinning between Naples and Liverpool. The English club wants Osimhen and Napoli, from this point of view, it does not make sense to discount the clause, so it asks for the €75 million as per the contract.
“Liverpool would have opened to Napoli, proposing an equal exchange between the players involved in this operation. (Napoli president) Aurelio De Laurentiis, however, has other ideas and from that ear, he doesn’t hear us: the president of the blue club asks for Chiesa, Nunez and €20 million for the Osimhen card,” he added.
According to Napoli, Nunez should fetch a lower transfer fee than Liverpool’s €60 million asking price. The clubs are anticipated to keep negotiating, and if a deal is reached, it will probably be divided into three distinct transactions.
Continuing, Galatasaray is launching its own charm offensive in an attempt to keep Osimhen after his incredible loan stint in Istanbul. The striker was personally called by coach Buruk, who explained the club’s goals and assured him that joining the Super Lig champions would be “the best decision of his career,” according to Fanatik. Osimhen played a key role in Galatasaray’s domestic double the previous season, contributing eight assists and 37 goals in 41 games across all competitions.
With Al Hilal putting together an incredible €160 million three-year deal that would see the striker earn over €40 million per season, the Turkish powerhouses will have fierce competition for Osimhen’s services. According to reports, coach Simone Inzaghi has also gotten in touch with Osimhen and insisted that the Saudi team is the best fit for him, BrandSpur entertainment and lifestyle news desk reports.
Juventus has also become a contender, but they would have to pay more because Osimhen’s €75 million release clause only applies to foreign teams, which gives Napoli the leverage to demand more from their Serie A rivals. The Nigerian international football star, who seems intent on weighing all of his options before making a decision, has been linked to Manchester United, Chelsea, and Arsenal.
