Napoli Reject Liverpool’s Bid To Sign Osimhen

Napoli turned down Liverpool’s initial offer for Victor Osimhen as Galatasaray coach Okan Buruk personally called the Nigerian striker to persuade him to return to Turkey.

The Serie A champions turned down Liverpool’s initial proposal of an “equal exchange” involving Federico Chiesa and Darwin Nunez for the 26-year-old striker, according to Valter De Maggio.

Liverpool’s pursuit of Osimhen has gathered serious momentum as manager Arne Slot looks to add a marquee striker to his squad following their Premier League title triumph. The Reds won the championship by 10 clear points in the Dutchman’s first season at Anfield.

Despite already spending over £190m this summer on five new signings – with Milos Kerkez on the cusp of being announced as their latest addition to join Giorgi Mamardashvili, Jeremie Frimpong, Armin Pecsi and Florian Wirtz – Liverpool remain determined to secure their priority target.

The Merseyside club value Nunez at €60m and Chiesa at €20m, believing this represents fair value for Osimhen, who has a €75m release clause. However, Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis is demanding both players plus an additional €20m cash adjustment.

“There is a market twinning between Naples and Liverpool. The English club wants Osimhen and Napoli, from this point of view, does not make discounts on the clause, so it asks for the €75 million as per the contract,” De Maggio told Radio Goal, via Area Napoli.

“Liverpool would have opened to Napoli, proposing an equal exchange between the players involved in this operation. (Napoli president) Aurelio De Laurentiis, however, has other ideas and from that ear, he doesn’t hear us: the president of the blue club asks for Chiesa, Nunez and €20 million for the Osimhen card.”