Liverpool Back On Osimhen’s Trail, Make U-Turn On Werner

Liverpool are back firmly on the trail of Lille striker Victor Osimhen and could sign the striker instead of RB Leipzig forward Timo Werner, according to reports.

Werner is very much top of Liverpool’s shopping list but with their board said to be opposed to splashing out significant sums this summer, the name of Osimhen has popped up as a viable alternative.

That is after reports in France claimed his club Lille are now ready to sell for a reduced €45m (£40m) fee, as opposed the €80m (£72m) as had previously been reported.

The Nigerian marksman, 21, has enjoyed a stellar debut season in Ligue 1, notching 18 goals across all competitions.

His rapid rise has attracted the attentions of many of the Premier League’s heavy hitters, with Liverpool, Man Utd and Tottenham the clubs most frequently linked.

Indeed, Lille president Gerard Lopez confirmed the Premier League interest when he revealed he “turned down one English” bid in the January transfer window and that he would be seeking a fee on par with the money they received from Arsenal for Nicolas Pepe last summer.

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However, Le 10 Sport claims in an exclusive that Osimhen’s price is actually around the €45m mark and that talks had been held over a potential move to Liverpool this summer.

That’s a claim ratified by Spanish outlet Don Balon, who also claim the knockdown fee has alerted Real Madrid to his potential signing, with the Nigerian said to favour a move to the Bernabeu above all others.

This follows reports in Italy on Wednesday which also state Osimhem is also wanted by Napoli as they target a replacement for departing Polish striker Arkadiusz Milik this summer.

Tallk of a possible switch to the Premier League with Liverpool has also prompted a reaction from Nigeria manager Gernot Rohr, who admitted he’d be thrilled to see his young charge move to a bigger club.