Darwin Núñez wants for Napoli move as Liverpool hold firm on £60m valuation. Liverpool striker Darwin Núñez has formally requested for a transfer to Napoli, selecting the Serie A champions as his preferred destination after direct talks with manager Antonio Conte. However, the move hinges on Napoli meeting Liverpool’s £59–70 million valuation—a significant hurdle for the Italian club.
The Stalemate in Negotiations
Núñez’s Push: The Uruguayan, frustrated by limited starts (just 8 in the 2024/25 Premier League), sees Napoli as the ideal environment to reignite his career. Conte’s project, emphasizing physical forwards, appeals to Núñez, who scored just 7 goals in 47 appearances last season.
🚨🇺🇾 Napoli remain in active talks for Darwin Nunez; there’s significant gap in valuation with Liverpool but he’s still the top target.
Lorenzo Lucca deal, at advanced stages with Udinese and player side as Napoli can decide to close it any moment.
🎥🇮🇹 https://t.co/QiaFSY8Jq9 pic.twitter.com/XYsJFqH6Zb
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 29, 2025
Liverpool’s Demands: Despite Núñez’s underwhelming record (40 goals in 143 games since his £85m 2022 move), Liverpool insists on recouping €65m (£55.6m) upfront plus €5m (£4.2m) in add-ons. Internally, Anfield officials doubt Napoli can meet this price.
Napoli’s Reluctance: The club views Liverpool’s demands as “difficult,” exploring cheaper alternatives like Udinese’s Lorenzo Lucca (12 Serie A goals last term). Talks continue, but no official bid has been submitted.
Financial Paradox: Profit vs. Reality
While a €65m (£55.6m) sale would technically book Liverpool a €40m “profit” due to amortization (his remaining book value is €25m), the club faces a net loss of €20m on their initial €85m investment. This accounting nuance aids Financial Fair Play compliance but underscores Núñez’s failure to justify his fee.
Performance Analysis: A Flawed Fit
Núñez’s Liverpool tenure epitomized unfulfilled promise:
Inconsistency: Though his work rate earned initial fan appreciation, erratic finishing (25 Premier League goals total) and decision-making eroded trust.
Tactical Misfit: Under Arne Slot, his role was limited even further still. His xG underperformance (-3.5 in 2024/25) would indicate he wasted plenty of chances when compared to his 54-goal season at Benfica.
Napoli’s Competition and Contingencies
Atlético Madrid’s Interest: Núñez reportedly reached a verbal agreement with Atlético, but Napoli remains his priority.
Liverpool’s Plans: Funds from his sale could fuel a move for Newcastle’s Alexander Isak or PSG’s Hugo Ekitike. Florian Wirtz’s arrival (£116m) also reduces reliance on a traditional striker.
Napoli’s Fallback: Should talks collapse, Jonathan David (Lille) is a viable alternative.
Napoli’s Broader Implications
For Liverpool: Selling Darwin Núñez to Napoli frees up space and wages for a more clinical goalscorer. His departure also signals a practical reset in advance of a Klopp post-mortem.
For Napoli: Signing Núñez fits with Conte’s physical, direct style of football, but with a chance of repeating his Liverpool struggles if confidence is affected going from the Premier League mission to Serie A transition.
For Núñez: A Serie A switch provides an opportunity for lower-pressure rehabilitation, akin to Romelu Lukaku’s renewed career in eItaliane football.
The Verdict
Núñez’s Anfield exit seems inevitable, but Napoli must bridge a €15m+ gap to secure him. With Atlético lurking and Liverpool refusing to budge, this saga could extend into August. For the Reds, cutting losses on a misfit marks smart business. But for Núñez, Napoli represents a final chance to prove he belongs among Europe’s elite.
Darwin Núñez has formally requested a transfer, selecting Napoli as his preferred destination after direct talks with manager Antonio Conte . However, the move remains stalled due to a significant valuation gap. Liverpool demand €65m (£55.6m) plus €5m add-ons, while Napoli consider this “difficult” and propose a fee closer to £50m.
Final Thoughts
With the striker’s limited role under Arne Slot (8 Premier League starts in 2024/25) and Liverpool’s bona fides sell a player to free up funds for targets like Alexander Isak, it all signals an inevitable departure for Núñez. Whether Napoli can pay Liverpool´s asking price also depends on whether or not Victor Osimhen moves to Al-Hilal for £67m. If those negotiations fail, Núñez could be left with no option but Atlético Madrid.
For Liverpool, this impasse tests their commitment to recoup maximum value for a player whose 25 Premier League goals in three seasons fell short of their expectations.
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