Liverpool is currently engaged in negotiations to sign a £60 million striker considered “world-class” — one who could potentially be a more impactful player than Viktor Gyokeres.
Earlier in the transfer window, Liverpool seemed to be leading the race for Eintracht Frankfurt’s French striker Hugo Ekitike. However, Chelsea and Manchester United are also in contact with both the German club and the player’s representatives, making the race competitive. Despite this, Liverpool remains in a strong position, though progress is reportedly slow — partly due to Darwin Nunez still being part of the squad under new head coach Arne Slot.
Nunez is expected to leave this summer, but no concrete developments have emerged yet, despite interest from clubs in Serie A and the Saudi Pro League. Ekitike’s hefty €100m (£85m) price tag is also a major hurdle, and Frankfurt appears unwilling to budge on that valuation.
With Nunez’s departure likely, Liverpool is looking at alternatives. One such name is Viktor Gyokeres of Sporting CP, who has impressed with 97 goals in 102 games. While Arsenal and Manchester United are showing stronger interest at this point, Liverpool still remains in the conversation. Gyokeres is seen as a significant upgrade over Nunez, but at 27 years old, and with Sporting insisting on a similar €100m release clause, the deal would be expensive.
Despite having contacted Gyokeres earlier in May, Liverpool reportedly has concerns about whether his goal-scoring form in Portugal will translate to the Premier League. This has prompted the club to seek a more proven option.
Osimhen Emerges as a Top Target
TEAMtalk reports that Liverpool has initiated talks involving a potential swap deal that would send Nunez and Federico Chiesa to Napoli in exchange for Victor Osimhen. Discussions are still in the early stages, but the idea is gaining traction.
Osimhen, who spent time on loan at Galatasaray, is expected to leave Napoli permanently this summer. Valued at £60m, the Nigerian striker offers a more affordable and potentially more Premier League-ready option than both Ekitike and Gyokeres. If part of his fee is offset through a swap involving Nunez and/or Chiesa, the overall cost could be even lower.
Liverpool, often criticized for cautious spending under FSG, appears to be making ambitious moves this window. Still, with limited funds, Osimhen offers a balance of quality and value.
While Ekitike holds promise and Gyokeres has a remarkable scoring record, Osimhen is more experienced and established at the highest level. Praised by Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley for his “world-class” finishing, Osimhen brings much-needed clinical ability to Liverpool’s frontline.
Beyond goal-scoring, the powerful forward also contributes through his physical presence, ability to drive forward, and link-up play. Though Gyokeres is also a complete attacker, betting on his success in the Premier League comes with risk — one Liverpool may choose to avoid as they aim to compete at the very top.
