A Jurgen Klopp inspired push for Liverpool to sign Victor Osimhen has been unearthed in the Italian media, with Napoli resorting to some desperate tactics to keep the striker out of the Merseysiders’ hands.
The Nigerian striker has emerged as one of the world’s most in-demand stars after a breathtaking spell in Serie A. He has scored 28 times in 36 appearances this season to steer Napoli towards a first domestic title in 33 years.
But with celebrations still going on in the football crazy city, speculation over their star names has stepped up a notch.
Indeed, their star defender Kim Min-jae also finds himself a man in demand amid speculation of a move to Manchester United. And while his agents are playing down claims Kim is moving to Man Utd, he very much remains a top target of Erik ten Hag.
The United boss is also very much keen on Osimhen too. And with a record that now reads 94 goals in 188 career games, it is easy to see why he is a man in demand.
As well as United, Chelsea are also being credited with a strong interest.
The United boss is also very much keen on Osimhen too. And with a record that now reads 94 goals in 188 career games, it is easy to see why he is a man in demand.
As well as United, Chelsea are also being credited with a strong interest.
Signing him though for any Premier League club will prove far from easy.
Aurelio De Laurentiis is hoping to tie the 24-year-old down to a new and improved deal. Furthermore, even were he to evade signing an extension, the Napoli president is unlikely to let him go cheaply.
Indeed, there has been talk that the Serie A champions value their star man at a prohibitive €150m (£132m).
Now, however, it has emerged of the great lengths Napoli went to in first signing Osimhen.
Napoli went to great lengths to block Osimhen’s Liverpool move
He moved to the club from French side Lille in summer 2020, beating Liverpool to his signature.
Liverpool’s interest at the time was pretty well documented. However, it was not known exactly how keen Klopp was in actually securing his signature.
Now the club’s former collaborator Giandomenico Costi has revealed the extreme lengths Napoli went to to block Klopp’s efforts.
And, astonishingly, he claims that Napoli director Cristiano Giuntoli ‘locked Osimhen in a hotel room’ until he signed on the dotted line with the Gli Azzurri with Liverpool lurking.
“The signing of Osimhen is Giuntoli’s biggest masterpiece,” Costi told Tuttosport (16/5/23, page 15).
“He [Osimhen] was locked in a hotel for three days. Giuntoli knew Liverpool were interested, and Jurgen Klopp had made his move. However, 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. But he knew Victor very well, he had even followed him at Charleroi.”
Reflecting on the deal to sign Kim, who was brought in to succeed Kalidou Koulibaly, Costi claims it was a far easier process.
“With Kim, it was easier,” Costi added. “Cristiano didn’t need to scrutinise many defenders to understand that he was the right one!”
Liverpool’s loss has certainly been Napoli’s gain.
And they will hope to keep the Nigerian on their books for a good few years yet. Indeed, his overal record reads 56 goals in 98 games for the newly-crowned champions.
