Slot to sanction Darwin Nunez transfer at Liverpool as replacements lined up
Darwin Nunez continues to polarise opinions at Liverpool, none more so than that of his manager Arne Slot.
The Uruguayan striker is a crowd favourite at Anfield for his desire and work-rate, but his profligacy in front of goal – scoring just six goals in 33 appearances this term – makes him a highly decisive figure.
Nunez is yet to break the 20-goal barrier in his two and a half years on Merseyside and doesn’t look on track to do this season either, despite Slot’s side competing superbly across multiple fronts.
As a result, talk of an earlier-than-expected Liverpool departure has been rife as the summer transfer window comes into view, and it remains to be seen if Slot feels he can find an upgrade.
Liverpool line up four replacements for Darwin Nunez transfer
A recent report from CaughtOffside (14 February) states that Slot has indeed made up his mind on Nunez’s future, and is “ready to sell” his number nine come the opening of the summer window.
Slot’s Reds won’t be resting on their laurels to find a new striker if and when Nunez departs, with Alexander Isak, Ollie Watkins, Marcus Thuram and Mohamed Amoura all on their transfer radar.
Newcastle United frontman Isak is arguably the form striker in the Premier League and has left the door open for a move to Anfield [TEAMtalk, 13 February], but it’s unclear which of the quartet Slot will opt for.
Darwin Nunez’s days numbered at Liverpool amid Slot stance
If Slot is intent on ensuring a new striker arrives to displace Nunez in the pecking order next season, expect Liverpool’s’ hierarchy to strike a hard bargain when it comes to selling their Uruguayan forward.
Having shelled out £64million to sign him from Benfica in 2022 – a fee which could rise as high as £85m all in all – the Reds may struggle to break even should they push to sell him just three years later.
Transfer fees in recent years – particularly with the arrival of the Saudi Pro League onto the market – have continued to skew upwards, but clubs may be cautious about spending such a vast amount on Nunez.
Though Nunez is coming into the prime years of his career, his erratic nature in front of goal makes him a risk for any club to make him their first-choice centre-forward, regardless of their ambitions.
Playing in a team that creates as many chances as Liverpool should be a striker’s dream, yet Nunez’s continued inability to make the most of these opportunities could end up costing the Reds millions.