It’s no secret the Reds are looking to move Darwin Nuñez this summer, with a change of scenery the priority for both club and player after a year when the 25-year-old Uruguayan striker took a step back on the pitch under first year Liverpool manager Arne Slot.
For Liverpool, recouping some of Nuñez’ €75M (£64M) transfer fee while clearing his wages and opening space in the squad are all priorities. For Nuñez, there’s a real risk of his career stagnating if he spends another season mostly stuck sitting on Liverpool’s bench.
Until this week, the top suitors appeared Atletico Madrid and the Saudi Pro League—with Atleti more tempting to the player and the Saudi league potentially more willing to pay a big fee that would satisfy Liverpool. Now, though, it seems all chatter leads to Napoli.
In recent days, a flurry of reports out of Italy have the Serie A champions making Nuñez their top attacking target, while the player is also said to be eager for the chance to stay in a top European league and move to a club also playing in the Champions League.
The only problem—and it’s hardly a shock when dealing with a potential sale to a Serie A side—is Napoli are crying poor, signalling they don’t have the ability to meet the Reds’ €60M (£51M) asking price, and would need to bargain it down below €50M (£43M).
Liverpool’s valuation of Nuñez is based on an offer from the Saudi league in January, but if the player is determined to stay in Europe—and fair play to Nuñez if he doesn’t want to take a semi-retirement payday move—Liverpool may have to accept a slightly lower fee.