Liverpool are reportedly looking to plot a move for Napoli star Lorenzo Insigne in January with the Italian’s agent reportedly in advanced talks with the club.
Lorenzo Insigne has been one among the architects of Napoli’s remarkable run in the Serie A in recent years. He, along with Gonzalo Higuain, made the Partenopei a force to be reckoned with last season when they challenged Juventus for the Scudetto. Despite the Argentine striker’s departure in the summer, Insigne remains a key figure in Maurizio Sarri’s side this time with the Italian having already notched 4 assists in eight games. However, the 25-year-old’s fall-out with owner Aurelio De Laurentiis may mean his days at Naples are numbered.
Insigne currently earns £80,000/week and his agent in recent months has taken efforts to bump his wages up to a £100,000/week as part of his contract renewal. Apparently De Laurentiis’ refusal to comply with the player’s demands has caught the eye of Liverpool and it’s reported that the club are in advanced talks with the agent to seal a transfer for the player in January.
Napoli value the winger at £44 million, which means Liverpool will have to break their transfer record on the Italian if they’re to bring him over to Anfield. Given their investment in Sadio Mane over the summer and subsequent interest in the likes of Inaki Williams, Liverpool’s pursuit of Insigne seems to indicate the club’s interest in stocking up more natural wingers.
Insigne has been very influential for the Partenopei, featuring in 176 games, scoring 29 goals and assisting 41 others since he broke onto the first-team set-up in the 2012-13 season. A lively player on the wings with an eye for a killer pass, the 25-year-old’s ball retention, creativity and work-ethic could work well within Klopp’s style of football. It appears the Reds are lining up options to add more depth to their wings as they inherently lack a natural winger other than Sadio Mane in the first-team.
Despite their interest in the player, it is however highly unlikely the Reds will give-in to Napoli’s £44 million asking price for the player. While he does bring in noticeable quality to the fore, whether he’ll come out trumps in the Premier League is debatable. And £44 million is too high a price to pay for a player whose quality in other leagues is uncertain. On paper, he does look like a signing to be excited about should the Reds pursue him but his price-tag is probably the only factor that’d impede the same.
