Liverpool have reportedly lodged a €70 million bid for Lorenzo Insigne in an attempt to land the Napoli forward when the summer transfer window opens.
Lorenzo Insigne to Liverpool rumours have not only resurfaced but seemed to have gathered pace, with SportWitness reporting that the Monday edition of La Repubblica claim the current Premier League leaders have submitted a €70 million offer for Lorenzo Insigne.
What is interesting is that the report has stated that the offer was not submitted directly to Napoli but via the player’s camp; in Insigne’s case, his father. Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis though, has cleared his stance as per the report, citing that the club value the forward at €150 million.
Coming through the ranks at Napoli, Lorenzo Insigne has spent his entire career in Italy and has managed to become somewhat of a revered figure within the fanbase over time. While he has only managed a couple of trophies with Napoli – 3 in total – he has become a key player within the setup and has been prolific in terms of direct contribution.
The 2018-19 campaign has, so far, seen the 27-year-old forward lap up 11 goals and 6 assists in 27 goals in all competitions. The player has often been linked with a move to another league, with most links pointing to the Premier League. It seems Liverpool, who were reported to be previously interested in the player, are intent on turning their interest into something serious this time around.
The 1-1 draw against West Ham United was another piece of evidence that Jurgen Klopp does not have a clinical striker within his Liverpool squad, with no real alternative to Mohamed Salah. The manager has reinforced the wide attack and other areas over the last year or so.
But, the striker department is seriously lacking a reliable option, with Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino recognised more as hybrid forwards and not pure number 9s. With Insigne now 27, he could be tempted to move away from Italy, which has become a one-horse race over the years, in search of a better chance to add to his trophy cabinet.
It would be wise from a neutral point of view to suggest Liverpool are unlikely to go as high as €150 million to land Insigne. But, their interest in the 27-year-old is serious, if the report of the €70 million offer is indeed true.
Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis has overseen multiple attempts from clubs to poach his stars after the departure of Maurizio Sarri, who signed Jorginho at Chelsea to aid the implementation of his playing style.
De Laurentiis has always played hardball and Insigne’s case should not be any different. Liverpool might have to negotiate with Napoli over the summer or perhaps shift their focus, should the Serie A outfit refuse to budge.
