Romano: Liverpool striker deal collapses as Napoli turn to Serie A rival | OneFootball

Liverpool Pull Plug on Nunez to Napoli as Isak Chase Intensifies

Napoli Back Out, Saudi Interest Remains

Liverpool’s plans to reshape their forward line have taken a fresh twist after Napoli officially walked away from a deal to sign Darwin Nunez. According to Fabrizio Romano, the Serie A club have informed the Reds they are no longer pursuing the Uruguayan striker, instead turning their attention to Udinese’s Lorenzo Lucca.

“Napoli have informed Liverpool tonight that Darwin Nunez deal can be considered off,” Romano posted on X. “Napoli will sign Lucca as new striker despite Nunez opening doors to the move, fee considered too high.”

Napoli had offered around €50m for Nunez, significantly below Liverpool’s valuation of €70m. The Italian club have now agreed a loan with obligation to buy for Lucca, totalling €35m across both stages of the deal.

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New Striker Remains Top Priority

Liverpool, undeterred, remain determined to bring in a new striker this summer, with the club’s recruitment department maintaining Alexander Isak as their first-choice target. The Reds are willing to go as high as £120m to tempt Newcastle into talks, a deal that would break the British transfer record.

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Should that effort falter, Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike is firmly on the radar. Ironically, both forwards are of interest to Newcastle, who are attempting to secure Ekitike while fending off Liverpool’s push for Isak.

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This shifting transfer dynamic underlines Liverpool’s intention to move on from Nunez and refresh their frontline with a more clinical, stylistically suitable option for Arne Slot’s setup.

Nunez Set for Saudi Switch?

While the Napoli exit door has now closed, the expectation within the club remains that Nunez will depart this summer. As Romano notes, there is renewed interest from the Saudi Pro League, with multiple clubs reportedly making initial enquiries.

It’s not the first time Nunez has been on the verge of a Middle East switch. In January, Al Nassr pushed hard to secure his services, only for Liverpool to pull the plug as they chased silverware on multiple fronts. A move was not sanctioned without a ready-made replacement, and with Newcastle unwilling to sell Isak at the time, Nunez was kept in the fold.

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This time, Liverpool’s transfer stance has changed. Nunez’s exit appears increasingly likely, provided their striker search concludes with success.

Forward Focus Shifts to Financial Prudence

Liverpool’s rejection of Napoli’s offer is more than a negotiating tactic. The club are acutely aware of the financial disparity between European buyers and Saudi-backed sides. Napoli’s structured bid fell far short of the £60m valuation, while Saudi clubs are expected to offer significantly higher, both in terms of fee and salary.

With Slot aiming to remodel his attack, the potential reinvestment of Nunez’s sale into a marquee addition like Isak or a more economical option in Ekitike could prove pivotal in shaping Liverpool’s next chapter.

Our View – Anfield Index Analysis

Liverpool supporters will be far from surprised that Napoli have stepped back. The bid was never close to matching what the club would consider acceptable for Nunez, especially given the £85m fee paid just two summers ago.

What will raise eyebrows among fans is the clear intent to press ahead with a major striker signing. Isak is not just a talent, he is a statement. The price tag may seem astronomical, but in a market shaped by inflated Saudi offers and limited top-tier centre-forward options, £120m for a proven Premier League attacker with technical flair and tactical intelligence begins to feel justified.

The fallback option in Ekitike is intriguing. At 22, he fits the FSG profile, young, versatile and with resale value, but lacks the Premier League pedigree supporters might want in such a vital role.

There will also be a strong emotional reaction to the end of Nunez’s chapter, should it materialise. Few players in recent memory have divided opinion like him. While the numbers don’t lie, big chances missed, erratic decision-making, his raw energy, work rate and flashes of brilliance meant the Kop always held out hope.

Still, under Slot and a tactical shift in play, the time may be right for all parties to start afresh.