• Victor Osimhen drew global attention with 31 goals across the 2022/23 season
  • He demanded an apology from Napoli when their TikTok labelled him a ‘coconut’
  • Listen to the latest episode of Mail Sport’s podcast ‘It’s All Kicking Off!’

Liverpool have reportedly joined the race for Victor Osimhen’s highly coveted signature. 

European giants are on high alert for the red-hot Napoli star after his public fallout with the club last month. 

Jurgen Klopp sent one of his scouts to watch him in action on international duty, according to The Sun. 

Osimhen played 60 minutes of Nigeria’s friendly with Saudi Arabia in Portugal before a hamstring injury forced him off. He did not play in their next friendly against Mozambique. 

It means Liverpool join the list of clubs with a serious interest in the 24-year-old alongside Premier League rivals Arsenal and Chelsea.

Liverpool are reportedly keen on Napoli star Victor Osimhen and sent a scout to observe him on international duty with Nigeria

Liverpool are reportedly keen on Napoli star Victor Osimhen and sent a scout to observe him on international duty with Nigeria 

The Sun claim that Jurgen Klopp sent one of his scouts to watch Victor Osimhen over the international break

The Sun claim that Jurgen Klopp sent one of his scouts to watch Victor Osimhen over the international break

Osimhen’s future at Napoli was thrown into doubt last month when the club released two controversial TikTok videos appearing to mock him. 

The first seemingly mocked him for missing a penalty and the second labelled him a ‘coconut’ in what has been widely condemned as a racial slur. Both videos were promptly deleted. 

In the wake of the scandal, his agent suggested they could take legal action, Osimhen demanded a public apology and removed all but one of his Instagram posts with a Napoli shirt, and the social media executive responsible resigned. 

Napoli did not publicly apologise following the outrage and insisted that they ‘never wanted to mock’ their talisman. 

Two clips posted to the club's official account derided the striker in September, sparking a fierce backlash

Two clips posted to the club’s official account derided the striker in September, sparking a fierce backlash

Napoli posted videos on their TikTok which appeared to mock Osimhen for appealing for a penalty in Sunday's goalless draw against Bologna

It also mocked him for putting the penalty wide

Osimhen was mocked for appealing for a penalty against Bologna and missing the spot-kick

Napoli's social media executive, Alessio Fortino, took to Instagram to confirm his departure

Napoli’s social media executive, Alessio Fortino, took to Instagram to confirm his departure

Osimhen scored 31 goals last season and has six to his name so far this campaign in ten games

Osimhen scored 31 goals last season and has six to his name so far this campaign in ten games

Their first post showed Osimhen appealing for a penalty with the caption ‘Gimme penalty please’ before showing him blazing a spot-kick wide against Bologna.

The second video, referring to him as a ‘coconut’, was impossible to justify. 

Subsequently, the forward called for unity and thanked fans for their support and kindness, saying he was ‘forever grateful’ to them, but the controversy put his suitors on high alert. 

He was reportedly already irritated that the club stopped him from filming a charity video for Africa, according to La Gazzetta Dello Sport, and he refused to celebrate against Udinese in the next match. 

Napoli chairman Aurelio Di Laurentiis rejected at least two serious bids for one of European football’s leading lights in the summer.

He even slapped a rather prohibitive price tag of £150million on his crown jewel.

However, the Nigerian international’s contract expires in 2025 and the Serie A champions will no doubt face further challenges to keep hold of him.  

IT’S ALL KICKING OFF! 

It’s All Kicking Off is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football.

It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube, Apple Music and Spotify.

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Post source: Daily mail

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