Victor Osimhen was 'locked in hotel for three days' as Liverpool could get second transfer chance
Interest is reportedly growing in striker Victor Osimhen, a player Liverpool has been heavily linked with in the past, most notably due to Michael Edwards' determination to sign him.
According to Spanish outlet Fichajes, Manchester United, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain are all interested in the Napoli striker, who is currently on loan in Turkey with Galatasaray. With his relationship with the Italian club having soured, it seems almost certain that Osimhen will make a permanent move sooner rather than later.
It’s claimed that the three clubs mentioned are all willing to pay the Nigeria international's $78million (£62m/€75m) release clause. There is no mention of Liverpool, but the Reds have shown interest in the past.
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Just a few months ago, Osimhen was being linked with a move to Anfield before he eventually secured his switch to Galatasaray - but Liverpool’s interest goes back even further than that.
Back in 2020, when Edwards was at the helm of Liverpool’s transfers, the Reds were said to have been in the running to sign Osimhen from Lille, where he had caught the eye with 18 goals in 38 appearances. Napoli director Cristiano Giuntoli though had other ideas.
According to his former collaborator Giandomenico Costi, Giuntoli took drastic measures in order to prevent Osimhen from getting the chance to speak to Liverpool. “The signing of Osimhen is Giuntoli’s biggest masterpiece,” Costi told Italian outlet Tuttosport (h/t Football Italia). “He [Osimhen] was locked in a hotel for three days.
“Giuntoli knew Liverpool were interested, and Jurgen Klopp had made his move, but Cristiano spoke to Osimhen in the hotel for three days until he convinced him to accept Napoli. He was full of energy. Giuntoli is a director who would call you 100 times a day. He knew Victor very well, he had even followed him at Charleroi.”
Napoli would of course go on to secure the signing of Osimhen, with the 25-year-old scoring 76 goals in 133 appearances for the club. His relationship with Napoli has been fraught over the years though, and his time in Serie A will surely come to an end soon.
Although Liverpool isn’t being linked at the moment, it is a move that the Reds should be considering, especially with Edwards back working with FSG. It would certainly make sense for the club to eye up a new striker at some point at least.
Many Liverpool fans seem to have lost patience with Darwin Nunez, while Diogo Jota’s injury record means he isn’t the most reliable option in the No.9 role. Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo have played there, with the former impressing in there this season, but both are undoubtedly more suited to the left wing.
If Osimhen is available then, as it seems he inevitably will be, it could be worth Liverpool joining the cue of suitors - especially if they can pull a Napoli and prevent one of their Premier League rivals from signing him.