Liverpool manager Arne Slot has clarified that Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen was never a serious transfer target for the club during the summer window, despite widespread reports linking the Nigerian with a move to Anfield.
Osimhen, who left Napoli for a record-breaking transfer to Galatasaray, had been linked with top Premier League sides including Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal. His move to Turkey followed a remarkable season on loan at Galatasaray, where he scored 37 goals and provided 8 assists across all competitions, helping the club to win both the Super Lig and Turkish Cup.
Speaking at a pre-match press conference ahead of Liverpool’s UEFA Champions League clash with Galatasaray, Slot explained that the Reds’ transfer plans were centred around Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike.
“We have added two number nines (Isak and Ekitike),” Slot said. “Unfortunately, it’s not the right word I should use because of an enormous tragedy that happened with Diogo Jota. In the end, we had to bring in two number nines.”
The Liverpool boss revealed that the club originally intended to sign one striker as a replacement for Darwin Núñez, who left Anfield in the summer, but Jota’s sudden passing changed their strategy.
“We always thought we were going to replace Darwin Núñez with one number nine, but in the end we had to bring in two number nines, and we’re always looking for very good players,” he explained.
On speculation that Osimhen was under consideration by Liverpool’s recruitment team, Slot was categorical: “It was always clear to us that from the start we wanted to bring in these two if we needed to.”
Osimhen, now leading Galatasaray’s attack, is expected to line up against Liverpool in Tuesday evening’s Champions League fixture, marking what would be his third career appearance against the Reds
