Liverpool Transfer News: Lorenzo Insigne, Danny Ings, Latest Reds Rumours

Liverpool are reportedly considering a £26 million bid for Napoli forward Lorenzo Insigne, with manager Jurgen Klopp said to be keen on increasing his attacking options. 

That’s according to Sport Mediaset (h/t the Liverpool Echo), which has stated that with Danny Ings out for the season with another injury, the Reds boss is eyeing a versatile option in the final third. Insigne, who has reportedly stalled on contract negotiations with the Partenopei, could fit the bill.

The 25-year-old Italy international is supremely talented and was superb for Napoli during the 2015-16 season. Here’s a look at what he can offer at full tilt:

Indeed, Insigne flourished alongside Gonzalo Higuain. Whether playing in the wide berths or as a split striker, his ability to find space, dart out of tight positions and then pick telling passes was key to the way Napoli played.

Insigne hasn't reached the same high standards this season, as he’s yet to score in Serie A this term, but he’s still been a creative force, registering four assists in domestic matches.

As we can see here courtesy of Squawka Football, inventiveness is a vital part of the Italian’s game:

While there are subtle differences in the way they operate, Insigne could do a similar job to the one Klopp may have outlined for Ings.

Since moving to Anfield in the summer of 2015, the England striker has been unable to show what he can offer. The early signs were promising for the former Burnley man—netting in a Merseyside derby against Everton—before he was sidelined for almost the entire season with an anterior cruciate ligament problem.

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Having worked his way back to full fitness, Ings endured another major stroke of misfortune, with a serious injury to his other knee likely to rule him out of this year too.

Although he’s barely been seen in the senior side at Anfield, the Liverpool Echo’s Kristian Walsh believes Ings would have had a role to play:

It would be no great surprise if the Reds did target a forward in the Insigne mould. The Napoli man is technically adept and versatile, meaning he’d be ideal for the fluid attacking setup Klopp has instilled at Anfield.

Insigne has the talent to potentially fill in for the likes of Philippe Coutinho or Roberto Firmino if they were absent.

However, after losing Higuain to Juventus in the summer and Arkadiusz Milik for much of the campaign due to his own knee problem, it’d be a surprise if Napoli were to sanction the sale of another forward, given their options are currently scarce.

Insigne’s talks with the club over a new deal may have stalled, but given he’s tied down to a deal until 2019, there’s no immediate pressure for Napoli to cash in before the Azzurri man begins to depreciate in value. As such, Liverpool may have to expand their search for an auxiliary forward during the midseason window.