Stan Collymore has said he thinks Liverpool should stick with Darwin Nunez rather than sell the goal-shy striker this summer.
The Uruguay international endured a tough season at Liverpool under Arne Slot and started just one of the last 21 Premier League matches in 2024/25. He also scored one goal in the final four months of the campaign.
It has prompted suggestions that Nunez will be moved on this summer, with strong interest from Saudi Arabia. He has also been linked with clubs in Spain and Italy, with reports coming out of the latter stating the Liverpool no.9 is valued at around €60 million ($69M/£51M).
However, Collymore feels there will be ample opportunity for Nunez to resurrect his Liverpool career next season, telling the Liverpool ECHO that his issues at Anfield have been partly due to the Reds’ reliance on Mohamed Salah.
“I am sure conversations are ongoing with Arne Slot and if he says he wants Darwin as a valued member of the team then I think he should stay,” the former Liverpool striker said.
“It's only if the club turns around and says: 'Look, it's not happening for you, it's not happening for us. We can sell you and you can get good money wherever and we'll get a bit of PSR wriggle room’.”
Darwin Nunez
Nunez endured a difficult season in 2024/25. (Image: Offside via Getty Images)
Given the arrival of Florian Wirtz, and Salah’s decision to stay put at Anfield, Collymore believes that chances will be created for Nunez to tuck away next season. Despite the repeated criticism of the ex-Benfica man’s finishing, an 18-goal haul in his second campaign at Liverpool indicates the no.9 could be a reliable goalscorer in the future.
"I think if you're playing at Liverpool as champions of England and the club is bringing in someone like Wirtz you think you can stick it out, make hay and get your head and continue to find that one season,” Collymore continued.
“It's only if the club say they want to desperately offload him but I haven't heard that, so I think it's going to be an interesting summer.
Stan Collymore on the ball
Collymore scored 35 goals in 81 Liverpool appearances. (Image: Shaun Botterill/Allsport)
“I felt I left Liverpool a year early and it was because Michael Owen was coming into the team,” the 54-year-old continued.
“So I thought I wouldn't get the game time, whereas with Darwin, he's got Mo who is staying and he is the main attacking conduit and we know there is a new attacking midfielder who is going to create plenty of chances and there are widemen who can create, whether it is [Cody] Gakpo or [Luis] Diaz.
“I would just stick it out for another year if I was Darwin, because his overall record in all competitions, goals-to-games ratio, isn’t that bad. It is not poor.
“He may well go, but if it was me, I'd stick it out one more season knowing that if Mo is settled and staying and Florian Wirtz is coming in and will be looking to create chances for forwards.”