Outscoring Isak: Sky confirm Liverpool chase for £63m Nunez upgrade
da betano casino： In 2022, Liverpool broke their transfer record to reel in Darwin Nunez, a talented and robust centre-forward who had made quite the name for himself at Benfica.
da fezbet： Having scored 34 goals across 41 matches in 2021/22, he clearly had the trappings of an elite-level striker. Jurgen Klopp was convinced after he scored against the Reds in the Champions League knockout stage after firing three goals in against Bayern Munich and Barcelona earlier in the term.
We’re now three years on from all that, three years on from Klopp’s decision to agree to a deal worth £85m for the Uruguayan ace. It hasn’t worked out, with Fabrizio Romano confirming that Nunez is set to be sold this summer after a winter move to Al-Nassr fell through.
It’s important that FSG get it right this summer, pick out the perfect successor. The name on fans’ lips is Alexander Isak, but that might not be a deal worth pursuing.
Why Liverpool shouldn't sign Alexander Isak
Arne Slot has worked wonders this season, leapfrogging Arsenal, four-in-a-row champions Manchester City, and the like to move, inexorably, toward the Premier League title.
Since signing Ryan Gravenberch in August 2023, Federico Chiesa has been the only first-team signing made, bearing testament to the team that Klopp assembled over so many years and his successor’s ability to whip them into an even finer shape.
The summer ahead is expected to be a big one, though, and The Athletic are among those to have confirmed Liverpool’s interest in Isak, who has been hailed as “the best striker in the Premier League” by Jamie Carragher.
Obviously, he’d be nice to have in the ranks, but Newcastle are very much aware of their talisman’s talents and have slapped a £150m transfer fee on his name.
Liverpool shouldn’t go near a deal if the Magpies won’t budge on that valuation this summer. There are other options available and this would exhaust resources at a critical juncture.
This might feel a bit pragmatic, but Liverpool’s structure is firmly rooted in realism, and it’s paid dividends over the years.
See, for example, the decision in April 2023 to end interest in Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham and instead sign a range of talented midfielders to pack the Anfield midfield back together.
Those midfielders are on course to win the Premier League after lifting the Carabao Cup last year.
Liverpool do need a new number nine though. Luckily, Isak’s not the only elite marksman on the market.
Liverpool chasing top striker
As per Sky Sports, Liverpool have compiled a shortlist of strikers – including Isak – to replace Nunez this summer, and fans may be interested to note that Victor Osimhen is on the club’s radar.
Athletic, powerful, and deadly in front of goal, the Napoli forward, who is on loan at Galatasaray, is expected to leave Naples for good at the end of the season after relationships broke down and prompted him to move temporarily to Turkey.
Last year, Napoli set demands of a fee north of £100m for the Nigeria striker, but hopes have been tempered as he approaches the final year of his deal, with separate reports suggesting the 26-year-old could be available for £63m.
Why Liverpool should sign Victor Osimhen
Firstly, Liverpool should consider signing Osimhen because he’s one of the most prolific strikers in Europe and has the perfect profile to thrive in the Premier League.
His career with Napoli might have ended unceremoniously but Osimhen was the driving force behind the club’s incredible Scudetto success of 2022/23, scoring 31 goals from 39 matches in all competitions.
Last season was one of frustration for the Nigerian, whose injury issues exacerbated the Serie A champion’s dramatic decline.
However, he’s back among the goals with Galatasaray, indeed proving to be one of Europe’s most potent centre-forwards.
Standing at 6 foot 1, Osimhen has the frame and the strength to lead Liverpool’s line in the Premier League, bring goals, and a powerful focal presence to enhance the performances of those around him.
As per FBref, he ranks among the top 10% of strikers in Europe over the past year for goals scored, the top 8% for shot-creating actions, the top 1% for touches in the attacking penalty area and shots taken and the top 7% for aerial duels won per 90.
It’s a fine representation of his quality, so active and present in the striker’s spot. Comparing him against Nunez, whose erratic and enigmatic style has left him isolated in the Premier League, and you can see why Liverpool are ramping up their interest.
Victor Osimhen vs Darwin Nunez (24/25)
Stats (* per game)
Osimhen
Nunez
Matches (starts)
22 (20)
24 (8)
Goals
20
5
Assists
4
2
Shots (on target)*
4.5 (1.8)
1.3 (0.2)
Big chances missed
17
6
Key passes*
1.1
0.4
Dribbles*
0 5
0.3
Duels won*
5.3
2.3
Stats via Sofascore
It goes without saying that Osimhen is more clinical than Nunez, but his goalscoring quality is built upon the dynamic and rangy skill set that has led BBC journalist Alex Brotherton to hail him as “unstoppable.”
His creative spark – having created ten big chances in the Turkish Super Lig, is something that could hold sway when Slot and Liverpool’s chiefs devise a transfer strategy.
Of course, Osimhen hasn’t been restricted to domestic success this term either, with his overall tally of 28 goals from 32 matches this season owing to a prolific burst in the Europa League, notably dismantling Tottenham Hotspur in the group stage.
This, if you refer back to the ‘goals scored’ graphic above, places him ahead of Isak, truly underscoring how prolific a goalscorer Liverpool could get their mitts on.
If Nunez is to be sold, this man would mark a significant upgrade, one who could make all the difference in keeping the frontline firing next year as Liverpool chase down more success under Slot’s wing.
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