Liverpool lastly have their man. No, it isn’t Alexander Isak simply but, however it’s Florian Wirtz, certainly one of, if not the greatest no.10 in European soccer proper now.
After successful the Premier League title, FSG and Arne Slot needed to make a press release signing. Nicely, Wirtz is actually that.
Signing for a British file £116m, the Reds have shattered their very own switch file within the course of to usher in an immediate improve to their group.
There have been complaints that Dominik Szoboszlai did not rating sufficient targets, notably bagging simply six instances within the top-flight throughout 2024/25.
By means of comparability, Wirtz netted ten Bundesliga targets and 16 in all competitions. He additionally offered 15 assists for his troubles.
With Milos Kerkez additionally now reportedly on his manner, what’s subsequent for Liverpool?
Liverpool’s subsequent large transfer after Wirtz
The title on everybody’s lips at Anfield over the past week has been Alexander Isak.
When Newcastle United secured Champions League soccer on the ultimate day of the season, few anticipated him to go away the Toon behind. Actually, a deal to lure the Swede away from St James’ Park nonetheless appears very troublesome.
Nonetheless, if Newcastle do promote, then Liverpool will probably be proper on the entrance of the queue. Studies this week counsel he’s their dream signing and they’re ready to launch one other record-breaking transfer to companion Wirtz with an elite striker.
But, if a transfer does not materialise, they should look elsewhere they usually might discover their Darwin Nunez improve in Victor Osimhen.
That is based on Italian journalist Valter Di Maggio, who, talking on a Naples-based radio present on Friday, revealed that talks have occurred between Napoli and Liverpool relating to the Nigerian centre-forward.
He started by noting that “the English membership needs Osimhen” however the Serie A aspect are unwilling to budge on their valuation of the participant, which stands at £64m.
Napoli sporting director, Giovanni Manna, has allegedly requested for data regarding Nunez and Federico Chiesa, with Liverpool truly proposing {that a} player-swap deal happens.
Napoli aren’t proud of that, nonetheless, and are “asking for Chiesa, Nunez and €20m for Osimhen’s companies.”
Why Wirtz and Salah would love Osimhen
Isak is the primary selection for lots of golf equipment this summer time and it is clear to see why.
The Swede was probably the most feared forwards in European soccer throughout 2024/25, scoring 27 targets in all competitions.
Nonetheless, with an asking worth that would attain as a lot as £150m, any extra is extremely unlikely.
So, within the form of Osimhen, they might signal one other of the continent’s most revered strikers, and for lots much less money too.
Liverpool have efficiently strengthened in a bunch of areas this summer time, changing Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back, upgrading on Andy Robertson at left-back and offering competitors for Szoboszlai.
The lacking puzzle piece you are feeling is up high, the place Nunez is prone to go away and Diogo Jota may be very a lot an injury-prone asset. Osimhen, then, can be one other improve for Slot and Co, handing Wirtz and Mohammed Salah a participant who might take them to new heights.
Whereas Salah wasn’t totally a one-man band this season, his help tally of 23 in all competitions and 18 within the league might have been a lot greater if he had a set of extra scientific teammates.
The Egyptian was simply two assists behind equalling Thierry Henry’s file of 20 for a single Premier League marketing campaign, however with Osimhen up entrance, the Nigerian could possibly be the person to assist him set data.
Equally, the 26-year-old could possibly be the precise particular person to make sure a clean transition into English soccer for Wirtz. Each gamers are two of probably the most artistic within the sport and would certainly thrive with Osimhen in entrance of them.
In any case, the Napoli sensation is among the greatest in Europe, hailed as a “monster” by knowledge analyst Ben Mattinson for his type over the previous couple of years. On mortgage at Galatasaray this season, he scored as many as 37 targets in 41 video games, ten greater than Isak, albeit at a better degree.
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Purpose tallies: Osimhen vs Isak since 2020 |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Season |
Osimhen |
Isak |
|
2020/21 |
10 |
17 |
|
2021/22 |
18 |
10 |
|
2022/23 |
31 |
11 |
|
2023/24 |
17 |
25 |
|
2024/25 |
37 |
27 |
|
Stats through Transfermarkt. |
||
However, the powerhouse striker has demonstrated his means to do it in a top-five league previously, famously scoring 31 targets all through the 2022/23 marketing campaign as Napoli gained the Serie A title.
So, with Salah and Wirtz behind him, each rating inside the highest 10% of positionally related gamers in Europe for assists per 90 minutes over the past yr, this could possibly be a match made in heaven for all events.
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Liverpool are working evening and day in the summertime switch market.
