The bold £130 million signing who could transform Liverpool’s attack and launch title bid next season

Liverpool have had some pretty hit-and-miss transfer windows over the years. Memories of major Anfield flops like El Hadji Diouf, Iago Aspas, and Mario Balotelli feel more like a fever dream now compared to the talent stacked up under Jurgen Klopp.

Even after the German joined the Reds, the problems in defence lingered, so remedying this underlying issue became a priority. The marquee signings of Alisson and Virgil van Dijk ended an era of pain at the back, while the bargain signing of Andy Robertson and the breakthrough of Trent Alexander-Arnold turned out to be the full-back pairing dreams are made of.

That, plus the blossoming partnership of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mané, sprinkled with the false nine revelation of Roberto Firmino, made Liverpool one of the most frightening teams on the planet. The long-awaited Premier League title and further Champions League glories speak for themselves.

That said, Klopp’s signings haven’t always been bang on the money. The departure of Naby Keïta on a free transfer after contributing to just 18 goals in five years while wearing the No.8 shirt is evidence enough. There are also a lot of question marks hanging over the decision to splash out on Darwin Núñez and Cody Gakpo - remember that agonising goal drought? - who have both shown glimmers of fire in them, but a burning blaze is yet to really get started.

Of course, every player deserves a degree of patience while they settle in, but we’ll just say two words: Erling Haaland. When the already unstoppable Manchester City are adding a 52-goal monster to their attack to replace club legend Sergio Agüero, that really does set the benchmark for other clubs looking to compete at the top.

Was there pressure to sign the £85m million record transfer Núñez? Perhaps. Liverpool haven’t had a typical goal poacher leading their attack since Luis Suárez, and while it looked like the frontline was in good hands with Daniel Sturridge, his injuries seriously hampered his final years at Anfield.

That’s why — despite the midfield rightfully being Klopp’s focal point this summer — Liverpool should also be in pursuit of a double figure-scoring striker who can rival the likes of Haaland and Harry Kane’s threat in front of goal. One name they have actually been linked with this transfer window is Napoli’s Victor Osimhen, and he could well fit the bill.

Naturally, the Reds aren’t alone in being interested in Osimhen. Not only did he finish the season as the league’s top scorer with 26 goals, he played a huge role in Napoli winning their first Serie A title in 33 years. The 24-year-old’s goalscoring frenzy wasn’t a one off either.

Since joining Belgian outfit RSC Charleroi in 2018, Osimhen has hit double figures in every single season for three different clubs. His presence in front of goal in undeniable, and the fact he has been able to keep up his performances across three leagues in the last four years also showcases how his flair fits into any side in little to no time. Let’s take a closer look at his goalscoring record since he first really burst onto the scene:

During his loan move in the Jupiler Pro League, Osimhen bagged 12 goals in 25 games, and 20 goals in 36 across all competitions for the season. After returning from Belgium, the youngster joined Lille, where he scored 18 goals in total, including two in the Champions League.

In 2020, Napoli snapped up the Nigerian international for £45 million and during his three years in Italy, his performances have set the pitch alight and his value has skyrocketed up to £130 million, which is what the Serie A champions are looking for if he is to leave this summer.

Osimhen’s debut season with Napoli returned 10 goals — a respectable amount but still a way off what he is truly capable of. During the 2021/22 campaign, he upped the ante by firing home 18 goals in all competitions, and contributing a further six assists. This most recent season, Osimhen really said “watch this” and finished up with 31 goals and five assists in 39 appearances.

These numbers are impossible to ignore, hence the widespread interest in his services right now. Manchester United, Newcastle, and Tottenham Hotspur are all said to be interested in Osimhen, as are Paris Saint-Germain, who will definitely need to replace Kylian Mbappé if he opts for a move away. So the competition is very much on, but since when were Liverpool afraid of competition?

They may have had to settle for Europa League football next season, but it’s already obvious that Klopp will be putting all that behind him and pushing for a title run once again. In the last five years, the Reds have won one Premier League title and finished second — one point short — on two occasions.

During both second-placed seasons, Liverpool finished with the same amount, if not fewer, goals conceded by Manchester City. They lost fewer games than Pep Guardiola’s side on both occasions, too. What the Reds weren’t doing, however, was matching City’s formidable goal tally.

Roberto Firmino has been a phenomenal player for Liverpool and he will forever be regarded as an Anfield legend. His special role in the team which allowed the likes of Salah and Mané to flex their muscles in front of goal worked very well, but perhaps it’s now time to add a typical ‘by the book’ striker to the team once again.

A question fans need to ask is — if Liverpool had a goal machine like Suárez up front in Klopp’s current team, what would they be able to achieve? It’s surely been a thought in many heads over the years but the spectacle that is Salah on the wing has blurred the fact the Reds will, sooner or later, need a striker who scores goals for fun, on top of any additional popped in by wingers and midfielders.

Adding an extra 20 goals a season from a lethal striker, plus the creativity from bargain new signing Alexis Mac Allister and any other new midfielders, could be all that is needed for another title shot. It will be an expensive investment, but with a history and potential as rich as Liverpool’s, there’s no doubt they will return as the mentality monsters who once instilled fear in every team who faced them.