Ever since his stoppage-time goal against Liverpool in the Champions League, talk of a move for Napoli forward Lorenzo Insigne has been gathering pace.
Latest reports speculate that Jurgen Klopp is keen to keep Mohamed Salah on his toes, with the Italian considered an ideal option.
According to reports in The Express, concerns about the form of Salah have prompted Klopp to consider additional attacking reinforcements.
And Liverpool are apparently monitoring the excellent form of Insigne at Napoli, given the forward has been in superb form since the arrival of Carlo Ancelotti at the Italian club. Such a move by the Reds would undoubtedly be regarded as a serious statement of intent, increasing the odds of landing the Premier League title.
The biggest appeal towards any potential move for Insigne is his positional flexibility in the attacking third, something which Ancelotti appears to have nurtured with great success this term.
The 27-year-old has excelled during the current Serie A campaign when playing both as a striker or attacking midfielder, along with his habitual role on the left, scoring seven goals in ten games.
Image: @channelstv via Twitter
Bookies regard Liverpool as main challengers
Currently considered the outright betting favourites to challenge for the Premier League title this season, priced at 9/4 with bet365 and 5/2 at betway, Liverpool are regarded as arguably the most likely candidates to dethrone Manchester City.
The recent draw against Pep Guardiola's side at Anfield boosted confidence and earned a valuable point, increasing expectations amongst fans and bettors alike, that this could finally be the year the Reds land their first league title in just over thirty years.
However, maintaining that challenge may require an additional boost, even after such heavy spending in the summer, making Insigne a highly interesting option if indeed Liverpool are preparing to splash the cash once again.
Particularly after the 27-year-old scored the winner when the two sides met recently in the Champions League, which saw odds for Klopp's side lengthen in the elite European competition.
Insofar as the bookies are concerned, repeating the continental exploits of last season could be difficult for Liverpool, whereas focusing on the Premier League race might be the best option for silverware.
There are some good deals around for bettors and you can find them here, with many believing Klopp will successfully guide the team to at least one trophy this season. Already eliminated from the EFL Cup, there are still three competitions the Reds will be gunning for in their pursuit of honours.
Image: Liverpool Echo
Reds would need to spend big for Insigne
Do Liverpool really need any further attacking reinforcements, or should Klopp stick by the forwards who were so powerfully effective last season? It's certainly an interesting dilemma, insofar as the Kop's favourite Egyptian is concerned.
Salah quite literally set the world on fire with his goals, but he has suffered a stuttering start to the 2018-19 campaign. That said, 4 goals in 9 appearances might indicate it's far too soon to panic, and he still remains amongst the favourites for the Premier League Golden Boot, despite getting off to a slow start.
Extra competition is always welcome, especially in the shape of a player who could bring competition in two or three attacking positions, which Insigne would undoubtedly offer.
Nevertheless, there's no doubt that Napoli would also demand an astronomical price for Insigne, plus he's never played outside Italy, meaning he would inevitably need time to adapt and settle in.
It's perhaps some indication how well Liverpool have performed and grown under Klopp, given the regular transfer rumours are linking the Reds with so many quality players these days. However, when it comes to any potential move for Insigne, it seems more likely to be long-term planning by the Anfield hierarchy, looking towards the end of the season rather than January.
