Liverpool want £70m for fan favourite as they have already lined up alternatives

Napoli have prioritised the signing of Liverpool star Darwin Nunez amid the Reds’ interest in Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike. Furthermore, the club and the fanbase are still grieving from the recent tragedy of losing one of ours, Diogo Jota.

Liverpool lacks the luxury of time to not think practically, as a potential Nunez sale leaves them without a striker. Given the recent development, which also included Nunez losing his grandfather, many Liverpool fans wish him to stay and heal.

However, if the 26-year-old opts to leave the club, with the desire to play regularly and compete for next season’s World Cup, his wishes will receive the utmost respect from the fanbase. Despite Nunez’s struggle, the Uruguayan international has mustered a cult following at the club with his impeccable attitude and drive.

However, with depleting confidence due to poor form, Nunez has lashed out emotionally on social media at times. At this moment, bygones are bygones, no matter what the 26-year-old opts to do next in his professional career.

Rest assured, Nunez is neither a spectacular hit nor a flop, as some would like the world to believe. The 26-year-old has scored 40 goals and provided 26 assists from 143 appearances for the Reds, highlighting his important contributions.

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano used  X to reveal that Napoli want Nunez from Liverpool to replace Victor Osimhen this summer. The Uruguayan is open to a move to the new Serie A champions, with Liverpool setting a £70m asking price (according to Corriere dello Sport).

Two potential options for Liverpool

Liverpool are already linked with top number nine options since the start of the transfer window to bolster their squad. The Reds want to add a prolific number nine to relieve the pressure of constantly scoring from Mohamed Salah.

The two strikers Liverpool are constantly linked to replace Nunez are Newcastle United star Isak and Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike. The Kop Times previously covered that Liverpool planned a swap deal to sign Isak when they had Jarell Quansah with them.

However, Quansah has joined Bayer Leverkusen, but the Reds’ interest in Isak remains strong, with many barriers between them. The Magpies have qualified for the Champions League and will demand an unrealistic fee for their best player.

Isak will hold a valuation of around £150m, which is absurd even by the inflated standard of the transfer market. Nevertheless, the 25-year-old is not only one of the best strikers in the Premier League, but also in his prime.

The only obstacle for Isak is the nagging injury issues that continue to bother him, as the fixtures list for an English club is always unkind. Meanwhile, Liverpool have long admired Ekitike with an established desire to sign him as a capable alternative.

The 22-year-old Frenchman made 48 appearances in all competitions for Frankfurt, scoring 22 goals and providing 12 assists last season. Ekitike is 1.90 meters tall, having an enormous presence despite his lean physique and preference to play with his feet.

The 22-year-old fits the profile that Slot desires as he enjoys dropping into spaces and channels to constantly harass the defence. Ekitike’s quick feet, ball-carrying ability and control help him outsmart defenders in tight spaces to make room for threatening moves.

Despite his lean build, Ekitike is hard to bully in duels, using his body angles well to shrug off challenges. The young Frenchman has immense potential and is still a work in progress despite his capacity to start immediately.

As Ekitike holds a price tag of  £86m, the difference in valuation between him and Isak is enormous if Newcastle continue to act unrealistically. Liverpool’s preference will largely depend on how immediate an impact they want from their potential new signing.