Darwin Nunez
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Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio has provided the latest update on Darwin Nunez and the reported interest from Napoli.
Nunez’s future has been one of the major headlines of Liverpool’s summer transfer business.
The Uruguay striker is one of the few Liverpool players who is expected to leave the club this summer.
The 26-year-old forward, who joined Liverpool as their club record signing for £85 million in 2022, experienced a challenging 2024-25 season and found himself increasingly sidelined.
Over the course of 46 appearances in all competitions, he managed just seven goals and seven assists – a return widely viewed as insufficient for a player expected to lead Liverpool’s attack.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot did show great trust in the Uruguayan in the second half of the campaign, preferring to play Luis Diaz as a false nine rather than start the 26-year-old.
His lack of starts at Liverpool has led to a desire to move elsewhere for increased game time.
Serie A champions Napoli have emerged as the most likely destination for the star.
Reliable football journalist Fabrizio Romano confirmed when Napoli will contact Liverpool over signing the player.
Earlier this week, reports suggested that Antonio Conte’s side have stepped up efforts to sign the Liverpool striker, with both clubs now in direct contact as negotiations enter a decisive phase.
The Uruguay international is understood to have given his green light to the move earlier this week, prompting Liverpool to engage in talks over a potential transfer.
Face-to-face discussions between Napoli and Liverpool are said to have taken place this week as well.
According to reports from Italy, Napoli’s first offer will be approximately €45 million with up to €5 million in bonuses, while Liverpool is holding out for a package closer to €65m in total value.
However, the latest update from Gianluca Di Marzio suggests that Napoli are leaning towards abandoning their pursuit of Nunez for tactical reasons.
According to the journalist Napoli have turned their attention to Udinese centre-forward Lorenzo Lucca.
The Italian striker was earmarked last week as an alternative in case the talks for Nunez did not progress rapidly, and that now seems to be the situation.
“Napoli, turning point on Lucca: the favourite to support Lukaku,” the journalist wrote.
The journalist clarified that the decision to sign Lorenzo Lucca is not due to the cost of the deal, as Napoli was prepared to invest €43m for the 25-year-old.
“Napoli is increasingly moving towards a very specific choice: Lorenzo Lucca,” he continued.
“The 2000-born centre-forward is considered the ideal complement for Romelu Lukaku, and the club’s idea is to pair him with a young, Italian striker with compatible characteristics and significant room for growth.”
“This is not a choice dictated by the budget: Napoli is ready to invest decisively in other roles too, but for the attack, the belief in Lucca grows day after day.”
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