Liverpool ready to match Napoli's offer for Osimhen in a bid to bring him to Anfield next season

ENGLISH Premier League champions Liverpool are preparing to match whatever Italian side Napoli offers for Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen in a desperate bid to lure him to Anfield at the end of the season.

Over the last few days, Osimhen has flown to Naples to discuss terms with Napoli who have been reported to have tabled a €80m offer for the striker. Although some sources close to the deal say the amount Napoli offered Osimhen's current club, French side Lille is closer to €40m, the fact that the player flew to Italy is an indication that the two clubs reached some sort of agreement.

Osimhen, 21, is arguably the hottest striker in Europe at the moment, after scoring 18 goals in 38 appearances this season for Lille. Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham have all also been linked with a reported £75m bid received for the  striker in recent months but with Napoli taking the initiative, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has decided to match whatever the Italians are offering.

Other clubs interested in the Super Eagles targetman include Manchester United and Inter Milan but according to French sports newspaper L’Equipe, it is Mr Klopp who is very interested in the player. According to the publication, the fee for Osimhen should not be a problem for Liverpool despite Mr Klopp saying yesterday that he cannot spend millions and millions on squad reinforcements.

In May this year, Lille reportedly received an offer from Spurs for the 21-year-old striker, although this was not confirmed by the London club.  Osimhen’s agent, Ariyo Igbayilola, later revealed that the player would not consider a move to White Hart Lane unless Harry Kane left.