Liverpool to STUN Man Utd and Chelsea with shock swoop for top transfer target

Tom Hancock

• Updated: 26 Jun 2023 20:17 BST
• 4 min read

Liverpool have emerged as a surprise contender to sign Napoli star Victor Osimhen, amid interest from Manchester United.

Chelsea, PSG and Bayern Munich have also been linked with the Nigeria striker, 24, who top-scored in Serie A last season as Napoli claimed their first title for 33 years.

It was by far the best campaign of Osimhen’s career so far, with the former Lille man producing prolific form throughout to find the net 31 times in 39 appearances in all competitions.

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According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Liverpool have entered the race for Osimhen – who has an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €70m – as they look to improve on their underwhelming 2022/23.

The Reds would doubtless face stiff competition, though – and not just from the aforementioned other rumoured suitors but Napoli themselves.

That’s because the Partenopei appear to be readying a new contract offer for Osimhen – who was utterly integral to their cause last term, also helping them reach the Champions League quarter-finals for the very first time, after they began their campaign with a 4-1 thumping of Liverpool.

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Is Osimhen on his way out?

Liverpool’s lack of Champions League football in 2023/24 might just rule them out here, though – along with Chelsea, who won’t feature in any European competition next term and might already have solved their centre-forward need by recently securing the €60m (£51.5m) signing of Christopher Nkunku from RB Leipzig anyway.

So, that possibly leaves a three-way fight between Man Utd, PSG and Bayern – all three of whom have qualified for next season’s Champions League.

But it wouldn't exactly be a great surprise to see Osimhen stay put at Napoli – especially considering how passionately he expressed his love for the club only a couple of months ago.