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Nunez and Chiesa facing exits

We could still see Harvey Elliott and Tyler Morton go before the window closes while Ben Doak has also been earmarked for the exit.

There are a couple more potential high-profile players at risk of being sold.

Darwin Nunez, 26, signed for a fee that could end up reaching £85m back in 2022. It hasn’t worked out for the Uruguayan and Liverpool are now looking to recoup as much of that fee as possible.

Then there’s Federico Chiesa. The Italian winger came in for £12.5m last year from Juventus but hasn’t come close to establishing himself under Arne Slot.

And now an intriguing avenue has opened up - which could see BOTH join Napoli.

Napoli reluctant to pay asking price

The Italian champions are big fans of Nunez - and would like to see him come in and reduce the burden on main goalscorer Romelu Lukaku. The only issue is Antonio Conte’s side won’t pay anything close to the £70m or so Liverpool want for Darwin.

Chiesa, meanwhile, is currently seen as a backup option to first-choice signing Dan Ndoye. Bologna are being steadfast in their €40m valuation of the winger and Napoli could opt to move to Chiesa if they cannot get a deal done.

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Liverpool like Osimhen

But Liverpool also like Victor Osimhen. He is one of three forwards now on the centre-forward shortlist at Anfield. That list also includes Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak.

It’s been claimed on Radio Kiss Kiss in Naples that Liverpool made an attempt to sign Osimhen by proposing a swap involving Chiesa.

That effort was refused by club president Aurelio Di Laurentiis - who wants a cash-only deal for the €75m hitman.

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Osimhen for Chiesa and Nunez?

But surely there’s an obvious solution here? Granted Liverpool might have to make a concession on the Nunez asking price.

However, would anyone object to a straight swap involving Osimhen to Liverpool and Nunez and Chiesa to Napoli?

The Nigerian, 26, is reported to have dropped his wage demands to something that the Reds are willing to pay. If you add Nunez’s pay packet (£140k per week) together with Chiesa’s (£120k) per week, you could make a pretty compelling offer to Osimhen.

© IMAGO - Federico Chiesa Liverpool