Liverpool has reportedly dropped its asking price for Darwin Nunez, and would accept a fee of around €50 million ($58 million) plus add-ons for the Uruguayan striker.
Nunez is widely expected to leave Liverpool this summer, three years on from a big-money transfer from Benfica. Liverpool knocked back approaches for Nunez from clubs in Saudi Arabia during the January transfer window, but there remains a strong market for the Reds' No. 9 during the ongoing summer window.
The interest from Saudi Arabia remains, while Atletico Madrid, Napoli and AC Milan are also being linked with the 25-year-old. It's claimed that Napoli has made a verbal offer of around €43 million ($50 million) for Nunez, with Napoli said to be keen to provide support to Romelu Lukaku in its front line.
Foot Italia reports that Nunez has no intention of moving to Saudi Arabia, as he wants to remain playing at a high level in Europe.
Napoli boss Antonio Conte is said to be a fan of Nunez and believes he has a higher chance of realizing his potential away from the Premier League.
Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano gave an update on Napoli's interest in Nunez earlier this week, saying that concrete talks have been taking place ahead of a possible move.
"We are keeping the names that have been mentioned in recent days regarding Napoli's attack," Romano said, as quoted by Tutto Napoli. "I told you about Darwin Nunez, who has moved from phone calls to serious, direct and concrete contacts.
"Napoli is working on the Darwin Nunez operation, but it is not an easy operation. There is competition from other clubs, including some from Saudi Arabia. We will understand more in the next few days, but it is a move that the Azzurri certainly want to try to make.
"There have also been calls from AC Milan to be informed about the situation, but the Italian club that is working hard on the Uruguayan striker - also with the player's agents - is Napoli.
"Now we will have to understand if it will be feasible from an economic and competition point of view, but the certainty is that Darwin Nunez will leave Liverpool."
Darwin Nunez has been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia as an exit from Liverpool looks likely
Nunez is leaving Liverpool (Image: Getty Images)
Meanwhile, former Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann wants to see Liverpool chance its arm with an audacious swap offer involving Nunez and Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez.
"I’d love to see Julian Alvarez at Liverpool and I think Darwin Nunez being part of the deal would make a lot of sense," Hamann told wette.de. "I think Nunez is tailor-made for Atletico Madrid as a physical centre forward, someone who will work so hard, which is what Diego Simeone wants.
"Alvarez would also be a fantastic addition at Liverpool. He played in the shadow of Erling Haaland at Manchester City, but really added to his reputation in Madrid.
"He led the line, scored goals, and made life a nuisance for the back lines he played against. I think he would be a brilliant signing.
"There are rumors about other forwards, but Alvarez would be a great addition to Liverpool, and Nunez might just be an even better signing for Atletico."