Napoli and Milan Target Liverpool Striker in Summer Move | OneFootball

Liverpool Weigh Up Darwin Nunez Exit As Transfer Picture Shifts

As Arne Slot begins shaping Liverpool in his image, one name continues to dominate the agenda at Anfield: Darwin Nunez. The 25-year-old forward remains a polarising figure among supporters, a symbol of potential not fully realised. Now, with the transfer market offering more enticing alternatives, the Reds look increasingly open to parting ways with the Uruguayan.

Market Opens Up For Liverpool

Back in January, Liverpool fielded offers for Nunez but ultimately chose to hold firm. It was not due to sentiment but scarcity. Few viable replacements existed in the market at the time and those that did were prohibitively expensive or unavailable.

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Now the picture has changed. There are names aplenty being bandied about, and crucially, they fit the profile Liverpool crave. Among them, Victor Osimhen, Hugo Ekitike, Joao Pedro and Alexander Isak – all strikers with pedigree and room to grow.

But before any fresh face pulls on the red shirt, Liverpool’s new sporting director Richard Hughes must recoup serious value for the man he inherited.

“Acquired for a fee that could have eventually reached £85 million from Benfica. That looks like a hefty price, but given the 25-year-old’s experience, track record and current contract (2028), it’s probably in line with other market values.”

If Hughes is to unlock the next phase of Liverpool’s attacking evolution, maximising Nunez’s value is non-negotiable.

Suitors Circle For Nunez

Interest in Nunez is far from lacking. AC Milan, Napoli and Al-Hilal have all shown their hand. But each comes with caveats.

AC Milan are admirers and have long had a fascination with the forward. But finances may prove a stumbling block. The Rossoneri stumbled to eighth in Serie A and need reinforcements. Yet their preference for a loan deal does little for Liverpool, who are seeking funds to reinvest immediately.

According to a report in Empire of the Kop, “the Milanese giants are seeking only a loan deal – which won’t ultimately solve Liverpool’s problems.”

That position leaves Milan out of the reckoning for now. As the situation stands, a short-term loan doesn’t align with Liverpool’s strategic goals.

Napoli Could Make Sense

Napoli is arguably the most intriguing option. Under the stewardship of Antonio Conte, the Serie A champions are looking to move beyond their dependency on Romelu Lukaku. Nunez’s energy, movement and versatility tick many of the boxes for the Neapolitans.

There is financial firepower too. The sale of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to Paris Saint-Germain in January added to an already healthy bank balance, swollen further by Champions League prize money.

“Conte’s club CAN afford Darwin at his current asking price but they too would prefer a loan agreement and – according to EOTK – don’t necessarily want to include a purchase obligation.”

For Liverpool, this again presents a dead end unless Napoli reconsider and show a willingness to commit either to a permanent deal or a loan with an obligation to buy.

That could change. Particularly if talks between the two clubs veer toward a potential swap deal involving Victor Osimhen, whose valuation and contract length (until 2026) align closely with Nunez.

Saudi Route Rejected

The third contender, Al-Hilal, bring financial certainty. In the Saudi Pro League, money is no object. Wages in excess of Nunez’s current £140,000 per week salary would not be an issue. But the player himself has drawn a line in the sand.

“But the problem for Al-Hilal is that he’s already turned them down. At this stage of his career, a top-level club in Europe is what he is seeking.”

Unless his European options dwindle, a move to Saudi Arabia is not on the table. Should circumstances change later in the window, that stance could soften, but for now, Al-Hilal are out of the race.

What Happens Next?

For Liverpool, timing will be everything. The right offer, from the right club, on the right terms – that is the ideal outcome. Slot needs clarity heading into pre-season. If Nunez is staying, he must be integrated. If he’s going, funds must arrive swiftly to enable his successor to be identified and signed.

A deal with Napoli, particularly involving Osimhen, remains the most logical fit – if both parties are willing to compromise. Otherwise, Liverpool may have to play the long game in a market that remains fluid but increasingly fast-moving.

For now, the club’s No 9 remains on Merseyside. But as the suitors gather, it feels more like a matter of when, not if, the next chapter in Darwin Nunez’s story begins.