Napoli could now sign different Liverpool star after Darwin Nunez failure - Exclusive

Darwin Nunez has been linked with a Liverpool exit for several months now.

The Uruguayan has struggled to find consistency throughout his three-year stint at Anfield, and it now appears to be a genuine possibility that he could have played his last game in a Liverpool shirt.

The Reds have been trying to sell Nunez to Napoli, as they bid to recoup some of the money they have spent in what has been a significant summer outlay so far.

Arne Slot could now be about to welcome Hugo Ekitike to Merseyside, as their summer spending shows no signs of slowing down.

Napoli will not return for Nunez

Liverpool have now been dealt a blow with the news that Nunez's potential switch to Napoli has broken down.

The two clubs had been in negotiations for a sustained period, but were ultimately unable to reach an agreement, which will now leave the Reds pondering other options for a potential sale.

The L4 outfit were trying to secure a substantial fee for Nunez, who joined for an initial £64million back in 2022, and it is understood that their asking price is what ultimately caused Napoli to turn their attention elsewhere.

Speaking exclusively to Liverpool News, Get Italian Football News editor-in-chief Kaustubh Pandey has ruled out the possibility of the Italian giants trying to resurrect the deal.

"Napoli's decision (to back away from Nunez) came down to the asking price, and that is why they have gone for Lorenzo Lucca instead," he said.

"Napoli did speak to Fali Ramadani, Nunez's representative in this deal, many times, but they made no progress in reducing Liverpool's valuation.

"Now that the Lucca deal has been confirmed, I feel like they are done strengthening their striker position. If they do add players, it will be someone who is a pure winger, like Federico Chiesa or Dan Ndoye."

Liverpool need to be realistic if they are to sell Nunez

Liverpool have been working hard to sell Nunez, but they need to be realistic if they are to get him out of the door ahead of the opening day of the season.

FSG will undoubtedly be keen to try and recoup some of the cash they have spent, but it is highly unlikely they will be able to sell Nunez for anything close to what they initially paid for him.

The erratic form he has shown over the last few seasons will have put off the majority of top clubs who could otherwise have considered him, and his career hasn't really progressed as he would've hoped since moving to England.

The Reds are now faced with a crucial decision as to whether they want to lower their demands for the 26-year-old, or start next season with him still in their ranks.

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