Liverpool are on the verge of winning their first Premier League trophy in 30 years with the competition set to return soon. As much as Klopp can be ecstatic with the performance of the team, the imminent transfer window must keep him occupied trying to add reinforcement for his team.
Le10sport reports that Napoli are interested in the services of Victor Osimhen, with the forward also keen to join the club. This may put Klopp’s plan of bringing the striker to Anfield at jeopardy and Liverpool must now look at other alternatives for the position.
The profile of Victor Osimhen
The striker joined Lille last summer from Belgian club Charleroi and has had some impressive displays for the side. The Nigerian has featured in 27 Ligue 1 matches this season scoring 13 goals in the process. Mainly used as a centre-forward, the youngster is seen as a target-man for his club.
It cannot be said that his game is one dimensional, but Osimhen has the knack for hovering near the opposition penalty box waiting for his teammates to pass the ball to him. His finishing is worth mentioning, and so is his eye for goal. This term he has amassed 3.2 shots per game, which is exceptional for a player at his first season in a new league.
Using his body strength, the 21-year-old makes the opposition defenders toil in set-pieces with his excellent aerial ability. Inspite of leading the attack for his team, Osimhen has also achieved four assists this season and made 0.8 key passes per 90 minutes. It is believed that the Nigerian international has a bright future in the game and would be able to be the nightmare for a lot of defenders with his accuracy in the near future.
Would he suit the style of Liverpool?
As much as the supporters would like to see the talented forward in the Liverpool ranks next season, what would bother Klopp would be the suitability of the player at the club. At Lille, Osimhen has undoubtedly been the star striker for the team, making a considerable impact on the overall performance of the club. However, in Liverpool, things would be a bit different.
Presently, the German manager would find it challenging to integrate him into the first team from the beginning. While his attributes do not match any of the current front three at Liverpool, he could be compared to another squad member, Origi. The Belgian has been an impact substitute for the Merseyside club, stealing the show at times with his performances. However, Origi has not been able to get into the team more frequently, and the current dynamics of the squad has failed to suit him.
Osimhen could run the risk of having the same fate as Origi, and his talents could be underutilised at Liverpool, where Firmino would be preferred playing in a false nine position. This could probably be the reason for the starlet to ditch interest from the current European Champions and look for a safer option in Napoli. Klopp, on the other hand, could look forward to finding someone else in the transfer market, who would instead suit his philosophy. Frankly, it is good news for the Reds fans as the club will have to shift their attention elsewhere.
Stats from Whoscored.
