'We wanted': Arne Slot answers whether Victor Osimhen was a summer target for Liverpool ahead of Galatasaray clash

Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version from Rousing the Kop or go back to LFC Live.

Liverpool signed two of the best centre-forwards in world football this summer, bringing in Hugo Ekitike and then Alexander Isak.The Reds always knew they’d need to bolster their striking options during the off-season after seeing Darwin Nunez’s output drop off dramatically.There were plenty of options on the market, as the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United also looked to bring in new strikers.Although he did not end up joining any of them, then Napoli striker Victor Osimhen was heavily linked with each English club, including Liverpool.Liverpool were said to be keeping Osimhen in mind as they attempted to find a clinical number nine.Ultimately, the Nigerian re-joined Galatasaray on a permanent basis after spending the 2024/25 season in Istanbul. And ahead of Liverpool’s meeting with Gala on Tuesday, Arne Slot was asked whether Osimhen was ever a serious candidate to be signed.Photo by Ahmad Mora/Getty ImagesArne Slot suggests Liverpool never looked at Victor OsimhenOsimhen’s star has fallen in recent years, despite the fact he has an excellent track record of scoring across three different European leagues.The 26-year-old has 39 goals in just 45 games for Galatasaray and would have been an interesting signing for Liverpool.READ MORE: Liverpool predicted XI vs Galatasaray as Hugo Ekitike decision made while ‘really poor’ star loses his placeHowever, when asked directly whether Osimhen had been on Liverpool’s radar during his pre-match press conference on Tuesday, Slot claimed the Reds only ever had eyes for Ekitike and Isak.“How should I say this in the right way in English… Because of an enormous tragedy that happened with Diogo Jota in the end we had to bring in two number nines,” said the Liverpool head coach.“We always thought we were going to replace Darwin Nunez but in the end we had to bring in two number nines.

“We are always looking for very good players but it was always clear to us from the start that we wanted to bring in these two [Ekitike and Isak] if we needed to.”Osimhen facing fitness race ahead of Liverpool meetingGalatasaray will not be an easy prospect for Liverpool on Tuesday. The Turkish champions can be a match for anyone when boasting home advantage.In the middle of that, Osimhen will be the biggest threat for Slot’s team to nullify at Rams Park.Perhaps luckily for the Reds, though, they may not have to face the former Napoli man at his very best.Galatasaray manager Okan Buruk has suggested that Osimhen is not completely fit to face Liverpool after playing for only five minutes during their weekend win over Alanyaspor.It seems very likely that the Nigeria international will play at least some part – and he has form beating Liverpool in the Champions League – but a full 90 minutes should not be expected.