Report: Reds set €65-€70m valuation with Napoli preparing improved transfer bid | OneFootball

Napoli Push for Darwin Nunez as Liverpool Hold Firm on Valuation

Napoli Set to Table Improved Offer for Nunez

Napoli are preparing to ramp up their pursuit of Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez, according to a report by CaughtOffside. The Serie A side have made the Uruguayan their top attacking priority this summer and are expected to submit an improved bid in the region of €55m. However, Liverpool are standing firm, with the Reds valuing Nunez between €65m and €70m.

“Nunez has already agreed on personal terms with Napoli and is open to the move,” a source told CaughtOffside. With personal terms already in place, the Italian club’s intentions are clear: bridge the gap in valuation and finalise a deal.

Napoli are said to be willing to go beyond €60m, but that still falls short of Liverpool’s asking price. Negotiations are set to continue, though a source admits the deal remains “complex” despite Napoli’s determination to “find a solution”.

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Italy Could Offer a Rebirth

There’s precedent for Premier League strikers thriving in Serie A after failing to meet expectations in England. Romelu Lukaku, Christian Pulisic, and Tammy Abraham have all revived their careers in Italy, and Nunez may find the more tactical, less frenetic environment suits him.

“Nunez has flopped at Liverpool,” the report bluntly stated. While some may find that harsh, there’s no denying he has struggled to cement a regular starting role under both Jürgen Klopp and now Arne Slot.

Liverpool’s Stance on a Potential Exit

Liverpool’s insistence on receiving top value reflects their continued belief in Nunez’s potential—even if the club is now willing to listen to offers. Selling the striker for a low fee would represent a financial and sporting failure, especially with no clear replacement lined up yet.

The club’s current stance is that they “are still asking for more than €65m, possibly even over €70m”. Whether Napoli are willing to meet that demand remains to be seen, but the groundwork is being laid for a high-profile summer exit.

Our View – Anfield Index Analysis

From a Liverpool fan’s perspective, there’s a strange mix of frustration and hope when it comes to Darwin Nunez. On one hand, the numbers are underwhelming. For a striker bought at such a premium, 40 goals in 143 games simply isn’t good enough—especially when so many of those goals came in less meaningful matches or after the game was already decided.

But many fans still see raw potential. His movement is intelligent, he presses relentlessly, and his off-the-ball runs often open space for others. The problem has always been his finishing and decision-making—both of which have failed to develop quickly enough. A move to Napoli might be the best outcome for all parties. He’d likely thrive in Serie A, where the pace of play might suit him more, and Liverpool could reinvest the funds in a forward who better fits Arne Slot’s system.

That said, supporters will expect the club to stand firm on their valuation. Selling low now, only to watch him flourish elsewhere, would be tough to take. The comparison with Lukaku or Abraham is valid—but Liverpool don’t want to add their name to that list of ‘what-could-have-beens’. If Napoli want him, they’ll need to pay for the potential as well as the past.