Darwin Nunez. (REUTERS/Phil Noble)
Napoli has made contact with Liverpool over the signing of striker Darwin Nunez, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano. Romano reported that Nunez is “guaranteed” to exit Liverpool this summer amid links to clubs across Europe as well as the Saudi Pro League.
The player is reportedly open to both Saudi and European options as he searches for a new club.
Nunez has been tipped to leave Liverpool for the better part of a year now, with the player facing scrutiny from large sections of the Anfield faithful. A series of high profile misses has seen him on the wrong side of headlines over the course of his Liverpool career.
The Reds signed Nunez from Benfica in 2022 for £64 million after a dazzling season in Liga Portugal. The Uruguayan scored 26 goals in 28 league games, catching the eye of the football world. He was tipped to rival Erling Haaland for Premier League Golden Boot awards for years to come when Haaland joined City in the same transfer window.
That rivalry never came into fruition though, with Nunez failing to hit a double a digit goal tally in two of his three seasons in the Premier League. He’s scored nine, eleven, and five goals in his three Premier League seasons.
Compare that to the 36, 27, and 22 of Haaland’s three seasons with City, and it is clear to see why Liverpool supporters have been disappointed with his output.
Nunez on the move this summer
Liverpool have already invested heavily in summer recruitments, and with more business expected they could sell some players to offset cost and balance the wage bill.
It is unlikely they will be able to recoup the full £64 million they paid for Nunez from a fellow European club, but reports suggest Saudi Pro League clubs are willing to match or surpass that amount. Nunez was the subject of interest from Saudi clubs in January but Liverpool were unwilling to sell the player without securing a replacement.
Nunez is available for transfer this summer and has a reported estimated value of around £45 million. Diogo Jota, Harvey Elliot, Joe Gomez, and Andy Robertson are other first team players slated for a possible departure from Anfield this summer.
Liverpool have agreed a club record £116m deal for Leverkusen ace Florian Wirtz, having already signed Wirtz’s teammate Jeremie Frimpong. The Reds are also advancing on a deal for Bournemouth left back Milos Kerkez and are weighing up moves for forwards Bradley Barcola and Hugo Ekitike of PSG and Frankfurt respectively.
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