Former West Ham United star Nigel Reo-Coker is convinced that any of Victor Osimhen or Victor Boniface would offer more value to Liverpool than striker Darwin Nunez, Soccernet.ng reports.
Nunez, Liverpool’s second-highest goalscorer behind Mohamed Salah in the Premier League with 11 goals, has enjoyed a decent campaign.
The 24-year-old is also the Reds’ joint-top scorer in the Europa League with five goals.
However, with only 18 goals in 51 appearances for Liverpool this term, there is a feeling the former Benfica man would have scored more goals with better finishing.
The stats back Nunez’s critics as he has missed 26 big chances in 33 Premier League games – the second highest in the English top flight.
By contrast, Napoli striker Osimhen has registered 15 goals in 28 matches, while Boniface has 27 goal contributions (18 goals, nine assists) in 29 appearances for Bayer Leverkusen.
Boniface’s goals have already helped Bayer Leverkusen claim their first Bundesliga title in history while they are on course for a Europa League and German Cup treble.
Ex-Aston Villa man Reo-Coker has urged Liverpool to include Darwin Nunez in a potential swap deal to sign Osimhen or Boniface this summer.
“The chances that he is getting are not half chances,” Reo-Coker said, as per TBR.
“They are creating it for him, and for the striker and the money that they paid for him, he needs to be taking those chances. He is not good enough.
“If I was Liverpool, yes, you are going to lose [Mohamed] Salah, you can probably find a good enough replacement, but for me, it’s that goalscorer.
“Nunez, it’s either you give him another chance, or you try now to trade him with another club where you could maybe swap Nunez and bring in some top European strikers out there, whether that’s Victor Boniface, Osimhen, or [someone].
“You try to work out a swap deal to get one of those strikers in and move Nunez on.”
Liverpool are reportedly one of the clubs monitoring Osimhen. However, they are behind Chelsea and PSG in the race to sign the Super Eagles striker.
Boniface, on the other hand, could snub all offers to be on the move this year, having only joined Bayer Leverkusen last summer.
The confessed boyhood Arsenal fan is happy to remain in Germany for at least one more season and help Die Werkself challenge for the Champions League.
NB: Would it be a smart transfer move if Liverpool swapped Nunez for Napoli’s Osimhen? Leave your comments below.