Former Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez has been tipped to make a shock return to the Premier League just one year after leaving the Reds. The 26-year-old has grown increasingly frustrated in the Saudi Pro League, with Al-Hilal signing Karim Benzema in January, a move that all but pushed him out of the picture.
He left Merseyside for a cut-throat fee of £46 million, a deal that proved a bitter pill to swallow for the Premier League champions, who had shelled out £64 million for him at the request of Jurgen Klopp in 2022. Although the Uruguay international had his moments in English football - popping up with his fair share of crucial late winners - his tenure, all told, flattered to deceive.
Nunez scored 40 goals in 143 appearances before being sold, but he also had an uncanny knack for missing some real howlers; in fact, no striker in the Premier League missed more big chances during his three seasons in the competition. There’s clearly a good player in there somewhere - on his day, he can look the part - but while many thought he’d take to the Middle East like a duck to water, he is set to be on the move again.
Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez in action Related
Liverpool and Klopp Disagreed Over Darwin Nunez Signing
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Darwin Nunez Transfer Agreement Made With Al-Hilal
darwin nunez
Saudi Pro League rules dictate that teams are only allowed to register eight foreign players born before 2003 in their 25-man squads, and Nunez was ruthlessly cut and hasn't played for Al-Hilal since February. Now, though, he's been given the chance to put his career back on track.
According to Uruguayan outlet Referi, the striker has reached an agreement with his current club to leave at the end of this season, with several clubs said to be sniffing around the possibility of bringing him back to Europe. That would be a huge advantage for Nunez, who will be desperate to return to international football after missing out on Uruguay's March fixtures.
The report adds that he has remained professional since his brutal axe, which would suggest he has matured since his days picking fights with fans and the opposite dugout for club and country while under Klopp and Arne Slot's supervision.
Huge Premier League Club Linked To Nunez
Darwin Nunez
As per the Mirror, Chelsea are among the clubs linked with Nunez, meaning he could well be on his way back to England this summer. With Joao Pedro already at the club, the former Liverpool striker could dovetail nicely with the Brazilian’s deeper-lying creative abilities, making runs in behind the defence - something they currently lack with Liam Delap.
That said, given the Blues’ current woes, with the club set to fall out of the Champions League next season, bringing in Nunez would be a huge roll of the dice. The move carries echoes of Timo Werner - a similar profile who ultimately blew hot and cold in front of goal. Another sticking point is the Uruguayan’s wages, reportedly around £400,000 per week in the Middle East - more than double what he earned at Liverpool.
Another club said to be in the mix are Juventus, who have also reportedly made Alisson Becker a top priority for the next transfer window - the very teammate who helped Nunez find his voice with translations during his time in England, and would help him to settle down in Italy, too.