Darwin Nunez makes Liverpool switch resolution after Saudi Pro League £60m supply
Liverpool are expected to sell Darwin Nunez in the summer transfer window as they look to offload a number of players in order to help fund a club-record move for Florian Wirtz
Liverpool might need to find a new buyer for Darwin Nunez, as the Uruguayan star isn’t too keen on a switch to Saudi Arabia.
The Reds are looking to offload Nunez in the summer transfer window, partly to bankroll their record-breaking deal for Florian Wirtz, but they’re facing a few hurdles. Liverpool are still haggling with Bayer Leverkusen over the terms of a deal for Wirtz.
Their latest bid, tabled on Friday, was £100million plus an extra £14m in add-ons. Both parties remain optimistic that the transfer will go ahead and Liverpool are exploring ways to drum up funds.
Selling Nunez seems one of the most viable options, with the 25-year-old still having three years left on his contract. He found it tough to secure regular play under Arne Slot last season, starting just eight Premier League matches, and has dropped hints about wanting out this summer.
Nunez is Liverpool’s record signing, having been snapped up from Benfica in June 2022 for £85m, comprised of £64m plus add-ons, and the club are eager to claw back as much of that as they can.
They knocked back a £60m bid from Al-Nassr in January, but have since received more interest from Saudi Arabia, reports the Mirror.
Al-Hilal reached out to Liverpool on Monday, on the hunt for a new striker before the FIFA Club World Cup deadline, and would be open to doing business. However, it’s understood that Nunez would rather stick around in Europe, with Spain or Italy being his preferred destinations.
The Uruguay ace has been the subject of transfer whispers, with Atletico Madrid and Serie A giants Napoli reportedly eyeing him up.
Nunez’s future at Liverpool is up in the air after contributing a hefty 40 goals and 26 assists in 143 matches over three seasons.
Earlier this campaign, Slot had to tackle rumours that Nunez was warming the bench to dodge triggering an additional £4.2m payment to Benfica.
Yet, Slot is well aware of Nunez’s discontent with his substitute status. “I don’t know exactly what is going to happen. One of the main strengths we had this season is that everybody accepted his role,” he remarked not long ago.
“And his role sometimes could be to start every single game, hardly be taken off, sometimes be taken off. It could be sometimes not starting every single game, sometimes not playing hardly minutes.”
