Nunez’s Lack of Starts Under Scrutiny Amid £5m Clause Accusation | OneFootball

Benfica’s £5m clause creates strategic dilemma at Anfield

Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez is once again at the centre of speculation, as fresh reports from Portugal suggest his reduced role under Arne Slot could be financially driven. At the heart of the conversation lies a clause in his transfer deal that could cost the club an additional €5m (£4.3m) if triggered.

Nunez joined Liverpool in the summer of 2022 for an initial £64m, with the overall deal structured to rise to £85.36m through performance-based add-ons. The Uruguayan striker currently sits on 49 Premier League starts—one away from activating a significant bonus payment to his former club, Benfica.

Appearance tally halts at 49 amid growing speculation

So far, Benfica have already received €10m (£8.6m) in add-ons related to Nunez’s appearances in both domestic and European competitions. But with just one Premier League start since January, and none in any competition since March against Southampton, questions are mounting about the striker’s omission from the starting XI.

Photo: IMAGO

This sharp decline in game time comes despite Liverpool having resisted lucrative interest from Saudi Arabia in January. At the time, the club were still competing on four fronts, and Nunez was reportedly central to those plans.

While many have pointed to the £5m clause as a possible reason behind his lack of starts, club insiders have dismissed such claims. Ian Doyle of the Liverpool Echo reports:

Poor form adds complexity to future prospects

Nunez’s recent performances haven’t helped his case. The 25-year-old has scored just seven goals in 1,920 minutes across all competitions this season—a return that’s far from the expectations set when he arrived from Benfica.

This dip in output, coupled with his limited appearances, has sparked rumours of a summer departure. While no official stance has been taken by the club, it increasingly appears that the striker’s future may lie away from Anfield, regardless of the clause implications.

Tactical or financial? Inside Liverpool’s strategy

Despite the noise surrounding the financial aspects of Nunez’s deal, sources close to the club continue to insist his omission is strictly tactical. Arne Slot, who has recently taken over from Jürgen Klopp, may simply be reshaping the team to better align with his footballing philosophy.

With Liverpool set to undergo a summer of transition, the handling of Nunez could be indicative of broader strategic shifts. Whether or not the £5m clause plays a hidden role, one thing is clear: Darwin Nunez’s time at Anfield is now under more scrutiny than ever.