Liverpool’s newly appointed sporting director, Jorg Schmadtke, has expressed regret over Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen’s sale from Wolfsburg during his developing stage. Schmadtke and Osimhen played together at the German club. However, after going 16 games without scoring a goal for Wolfsburg, Osimhen was allowed to go on a season-long loan to Belgian club Charleroi. During the 2018/2019 season, he flourished with 20 goals in all competitions, and Charleroi proceeded to activate their £3m option to sign him. Weeks later, Lille swooped in with a £19m deal for the striker.
Liverpool was among the top European clubs interested in Osimhen before he joined Napoli in 2020. Schmadtke, speaking with Kicker, postulated that “It wasn’t a good move, in hindsight. When I came, he was limping and running in circles.” He revealed that he was told that the strikers they had were not good enough, hence the decision to sell the Nigerian. Schmadtke aims to sign Osimhen, tipped as likely to play in the English Premier League next season, following their less impressive campaign.
Schmadtke will replace Julian Ward at Anfield soon and will lead transfer market operations for Liverpool in the coming season.
