According to a recent report from Italian media outlet Repubblica, Liverpool have submitted an informal offer for Napoli talisman Lorenzo Insigne.
What’s the word?
Jurgen Klopp made no secret of his reluctance to sign new players in the January window, but it appears the club are already laying the groundwork for the summer just days after the January window reached its conclusion.
The report from Repubblica claims that Liverpool have submitted an informal offer worth €70m (£61.2m) for Insigne, but Napoli chairman Aurelio De Laurentiis has refused to give the offer a moments consideration.
Insigne is valued at £67.5 million, as per Transfermarkt, but it seems an offer well in excess of that particular valuation will be needed to convince De Laurentiis to even consider offloading Napoli’s crown jewel.
Insigne’s arrival could make Firmino unstoppable
If Liverpool are ultimately able to strike a stunning deal with Napoli it could have a transformative effect on Roberto Firmino.
Within the current campaign, the Brazil international has not quite managed to discover the scintillating form which saw his reputation catapult into the footballing stratosphere on Merseyside last season.
That can be explained in part by Mo Salah’s move into a new look central role in attack, a move which has forced Firmino to operate slightly deeper.
However, even though Firmino is inclined to drop deep to collect the ball, his best performances arrive when he is deployed at the spearhead of the attack, and Insigne’s arrival could facilitate another change to Liverpool’s set-up.
With Sadio Mane firmly established on the left side of the attack, Klopp would be inclined to deploy Insigne at number ten, pushing Firmino into centre-forward and dragging Salah back out to the right-wing.
The sheer pace and flair which Insigne could provide would be perfect for Firmino, with the former’s desire to burst beyond him and into the space behind the opponents back line lending Firmino an apt opportunity to utilise his vision and outstanding link-up play.
A free-flowing front two comprising of Firmino at the tip of the attack with Insigne operating behind him would be one of the most frightening partnerships in the Premier League, but prising the electric Italian away from Naples will be far from straightforward.
