Darwin Nunez's future at Liverpool remains uncertain as the second transfer window of the summer draws near.
Since the end of last season, the striker has been consistently linked with a potential departure from Anfield. Liverpool has already started making plans for the new season, with Jeremie Frimpong's transfer confirmed and Florian Wirtz edging closer to a move.
Nunez contributed seven goals to Liverpool's Premier League title-winning campaign last term. As the Reds prepare for the upcoming season, speculation persists that the Uruguay international may leave Merseyside this summer. Rumors have been circulating about a possible move to Saudi Arabia in recent weeks.
Now, with the transfer window set to reopen on Monday, an update has emerged regarding Nunez's future.
According to Fabrizio Romano's report on X, Nunez is now "guaranteed" to leave Liverpool this summer. Napoli has reportedly approached the Reds to express official interest in signing the No. 9.
The Saudi Arabia rumors persist, with several Saudi Pro League clubs reportedly interested in signing Nunez this summer. Although no specific clubs are mentioned, Al-Hilal has been linked in the past.
Nunez has failed to match his promise at Anfield
Nunez has failed to match his promise at Anfield (Image: Getty Images)
Nunez has now wrapped up his third season with Liverpool, having joined the Reds in a deal initially worth £64 million ($86.6 million) from Benfica in 2022. The total cost of the transfer could escalate to £85 million ($115 million) with add-ons, provided all performance-related targets are achieved.
With Nunez seemingly on his way out of Anfield, if rumors are to be trusted, Liverpool has been strongly linked with bringing in a new striker this summer.
Thomas Spring, the Saudi Pro League's head of scouting, named Nunez as a potential summer target earlier this year. "I think that the recruitment model will be a healthy balance between elite, world-class players," Spring told The Overlap.
"So I still envisage a Mo Salah, a De Bruyne, a Darwin Nunez. I still envisage those players coming across.
"But I also envisage more emerging players like a Jhon Duran, for example, I see more younger players that are really operating successfully in leagues around Europe coming across.
"And that healthy balance being there. Then I also envisage that the ambition will still be there. So the goal of the SPL is to compete with Europe's top-five leagues.
"So whatever method to achieve that, whether that's staffing or facilities or player recruitment, medical, discipline, I envisage they will invest heavily into that. To come on par with Europe's top-five leagues."
Names such as Eintracht Frankfurt's Hugo Ekitike, Newcastle United's Alexander Isak, and Sporting Lisbon's Viktor Gyokeres have been circulating in the gossip columns over recent weeks.