Arne Slot refutes reports Victor Osimhen was a transfer target this summer – Liverpool FC

Forward of developing towards Victor Osimhen, Arne Slot has defined that the striker was not a goal for Liverpool this summer time as they sought reinforcements at No. 9.

Liverpool have been at all times anticipated to be out there for a No. 9 this summer time with Darwin Nunez lengthy tipped for the exit, prompting hyperlinks to numerous forwards throughout Europe and past.

Alexander Isak was firmly the No. 1 goal however with Newcastle initially enjoying hardball, Liverpool have been linked to loads of options, together with Victor Osimhen, who was then of Napoli.

Reviews linked the Nigerian as a potential various earlier than he went on to signal for Galatasaray in a £65.4 million deal, however Slot has now refuted that the 26-year-old was ever a goal this summer time.

• READ: Federico Chiesa’s Champions League absence defined by Arne Slot

In explaining how the tragic dying of Diogo Jota impacted the membership’s choices within the switch window, Slot stated solely Isak and Hugo Ekitike have been thought-about when requested about Osimhen.

“Sure, we’ve added two quantity nines,” Slot stated. “Due to an infinite tragedy that occurred with Diogo Jota, in the long run, we had to herald two quantity nines.

“We at all times thought we have been going to exchange Darwin Nunez for one quantity 9. However in the long run, we had to herald two quantity nines.

“We’ve at all times been wanting, we’re at all times in search of excellent gamers, nevertheless it was at all times clear to us that from the beginning that we wished to herald these two (Isak and Ekitike), if we would have liked to.”

• READ: Chiesa OUT as Liverpool title 21-man travelling squad

Liverpool in the end signed their two targets whereas Osimhen discovered a brand new residence with Galatasaray, the place he has since featured 4 instances with a return of two objectives after early health woes.

He isn’t anticipated to begin on Tuesday evening after being requested to play via the ache barrier over the weekend in a bid to play a extra concerned function towards the Reds.

Ekitike, in the meantime, is anticipated to make his return after his, in his personal phrases, “not sensible” pink card that led to a suspension over the weekend that halted his constructive run of kind.