Napoli has decided to lessen its interest in Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez because he is going to prove too costly this summer, according to reports in Italy.
The Serie A champion is instead set to secure the services of Udinese striker Lorenzo Lucca, despite Antonio Conte's side looking like a good option for Nunez. It remains to be seen whether other clubs come to the table for the Liverpool number nine, but Sky Italia says Napoli has opted to look elsewhere when it comes to spending its Victor Osimhen money.
Nunez signed for Liverpool from Benfica in 2023 but has since struggled to live up to expectations at Anfield. As a result, a move away feels like the best option for all parties, as long as his valuation is met.
Liverpool agreed to pay up to $115 million (£85 million) for his services including add-ons and is demanding a substantial fee for him now. There has always been rumblings, however, that Napoli might not be able to afford it.
It was expected that Osimhen would move to Galatasaray for a fee not that far off what Liverpool paid for Nunez, which could then have freed up funds for Napoli to spend. But that deal has not gone through yet.
AC Milan and Atalanta have both shown an interest in Lucca and so Napoli feels forced into making a decision. And with Liverpool wanting a big fee for Nunez, one deal will be much harder to agree than the other.
Darwin Nunez before Liverpool vs Crystal Palace at Anfield in May 2025.
Darwin Nunez before Liverpool vs Crystal Palace at Anfield in May 2025. (Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Lucca scored 12 times in Serie A last season. He is available for a much smaller sum of around $40 million (£29 million), which is considerably more affordable for Napoli.
Nunez only netted seven goals for Liverpool last season. And in February, head coach Arne Slot criticized the Uruguayan's work rate.
"I helped him by saying you can miss a chance," Slot said in his press conference ahead of facing Newcastle. "I wasn't only hard on him. But for the second time in a row, I wasn't happy with his work effort, against Wolves and against Villa.
"I can't accept if a player doesn't give everything. That is clear. I can accept it once, but twice was a bit too much. That's why I addressed it.
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"If you miss a chance, you need to be fighting for the team. I'm not saying he didn't do that at all, but it wasn't the usual Darwin, the one that is loved by the fans. That is mainly because he always works so hard."
Liverpool.com says: It definitely feels like the right time for Nunez to move on. He has interest from Saudi Arabia too but Napoli always felt like the most likely destination for him.
Moving to Serie A would mean staying in Europe, which was thought to be his preference. Atletico Madrid has been tentatively linked with a move as well, though nothing concrete has emerged aside from Napoli at this stage.