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Liverpool are eyeing up a £70m move for Napoli forward Lorenzo Insigne as Jurgen Klopp looks to bolster his strike-force, as reported by Italian outlet Repubblica.
What’s the word, then?
Well, the aforementioned Repubblica article states that the Reds have already made an offer in the region of €70m (around £61m), although that bid wasn’t made directly to the Serie A giants. Liverpool entered discussions with Insigne’s agent, Mino Raiola, who then contacted the player’s father to propose the offer.
However, Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis got wind of the deal, as per Repubblica, and retorted with a response Klopp won’t have been a fan of – €150m (around £130m) is the asking price for the Italian international forward.
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The 27-year-old, who has eight goals and five assists so far this season in 19 Serie A games, has a contract with Carlo Ancelotti’s side that runs until 2022, so perhaps Liverpool would be wise to stay away from negotiations of that magnitude for a player who will be 30 in three years’ time.
If he did arrive, whose place would he threaten?
If Insigne did arrive at Anfield, Sadio Mane’s place would immediately be under threat.
The Napoli academy graduate plays on the left wing for the Naples-based club, where he often cuts inside on his stronger right foot and looks to test the ‘keeper or play a killer ball.
Mane has sometimes come under criticism for his somewhat wasteful finishing, although he does still have 11 goals so far this season in all competitions.
What Klopp may want him to do more of, however, is assist his teammates. The Senegalese forward has just one assist this season – to compare with one of his strike partners, Mohamed Salah has seven assists, and has still managed to contribute goals as well with 19 to his name in all competitions.
If the far more creative Insigne arrived on Merseyside, Mane would have to buck up his ideas.