Former Aston Villa man urges Liverpool to use Nunez in swap deal to sign Osimhen or Victor Boniface 

Former Aston Villa midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker has weighed in with suggestions for potential replacements for Darwin Nunez at Liverpool. 

With Nunez's tenure at Anfield marked by inconsistency, Reo-Coker has proposed a swap deal involving Nigerian forwards Victor Osimhen and Boniface.

Nunez, acquired by Liverpool from Benfica in a high-profile €85 million deal in 2022, has failed to fully deliver on expectations, tallying 33 goals in 93 appearances across various competitions. 

Despite ranking as Liverpool's Premier League's second-highest scorer this season with 11 goals, criticism has mounted over his profligacy in front of goal, notably highlighted by his 26 missed "big chances" in 33 league outings.

Reo-Coker, speaking on the matter, expressed disappointment in Nunez's inability to capitalize on the opportunities provided, questioning his suitability for the Reds given the significant investment made in his acquisition. 

Emphasizing the need for a clinical finisher, Reo-Coker endorsed the idea of exploring swap deals involving Nunez and either Osimhen or Boniface.

"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."

He further suggested that Liverpool should either provide Nunez with another chance or seek to negotiate swap deals to secure top European strikers.

Osimhen, currently plying his trade at Napoli, boasts an impressive record of 74 goals in 129 appearances, while Boniface has made a significant impact at Bayer Leverkusen, contributing 28 goals (18 goals, ten assists) in 30 outings. 

Boniface's achievements include aiding Bayer Leverkusen in clinching their first-ever Bundesliga title, with the club also in contention for a Europa League and German Cup triumph.

The future of both Osimhen and Boniface remains subject to speculation, with Osimhen linked to several top European clubs, including Chelsea, PSG, and Arsenal, while Boniface has garnered interest from Napoli and various Premier League sides. 

However, Boniface's recent move to Bayer Leverkusen may present a hurdle to any potential transfer, as the player could opt to stay and build on his achievements with the German outfit.

Adeyemi Adewale

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