Darwin Nunez's Saudi adventure appears to be over already, but should Liverpool take him back on a free transfer?
Darwin Nunez has been frozen out at Al Hilal
Darwin Nunez has been frozen out at Al Hilal(Image: Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)
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Big things were expected of Darwin Nunez when he completed a big-money move from Benfica to Liverpool in the summer of 2022, but things did not go quite as planned for the Uruguayan international.
Despite scoring in the Community Shield against Manchester City, he was sent off on his Anfield debut against Crystal Palace and would only score 9 Premier League goals in 29 appearances. He crept into double figures the following season with 11 and despite winning the league title with the Reds last season, found himself on the periphery of Arne Slot's starting XI.
Effectionally nicknamed 'captain chaos' by some Liverpool fans, Nunez came under fire during his three-year stint at Anfield for squandering too many chances and it was no surprise when he eventually left for Saudi Club Al-Hilal last summer.
But fast forward 12 months and the Reds' former No. 9 has found himself at another crossroads in his career. Despite enjoying a good start, after finding the net just six times in 19 games for his new club, Nunez was left out of Al-Hilal's squad for the second half of the season after former Real Madrid ace Karim Benzema was brought in.
Saudi Pro League rules restrict the number of foreign players that can be included in each squad, and this led to Nunez's exclusion.
Now the 26-year-old is reportedly considering terminating his Al-Hilal contract early, according to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, with a return to Liverpool belived to be something that he would seriously consider. But does Andoi Iraloa really want a player that the Reds have already sold back at Anfield? The ECHO's writers have had their say.
Mark Jones
I get the idea in a kind of 'better Federico Chiesa' kind of way, and he'd certainly be more use than the Italian has been in the past season as an option off the bench, but it's a no from me I'm afraid.
I'm not sure those who are clamouring for the return of Darwin Nunez are really stopping to consider the frustration he could often cause to so many, and at this time of reset and refresh then I really don't see why a move for a player who was never quite what the club wanted him to be would be worth it.
Nunez was a crowd favourite for a time at Anfield because he'd work hard, and there's no doubt that he was a very useful player at times under Jurgen Klopp, but shouldn't sights be set higher?
There are other, better players out there for Liverpool. Loads of them. Go and find them.
Richard Garnett
As soon as the Premier League schedule has been concluded, we officially enter silly season before the transfer window is even open. And that is exactly what has happened here. Nunez was popular amongst some supporters because of his high work rate and honest performances. There's plenty to like about that.
But there was a reason that the Reds were prepared to offload him 12 months ago for a lower fee than what they paid for him. He wasn't good enough. His hold-up play and positional sense were often found wanting in the Premier League and that is before mentioning the high unpredictability of his finishing.
I am convinced that in his final season at Liverpool, teammates often chose an alternative option rather than putting him in on goal, such was their lack of confidence in Nunez's finishing.
That his current club has effectively already frozen him out mid-way through his first season after paying £46.3m for him tells its own story, I think.
Some supporters may argue that getting him back on a free transfer means that Liverpool have nothing to lose, but the player still needs to be paid and is being handsomely rewarded in the Middle East.
Thanks for the memories, Darwin, but I think we'll look elsewhere.
Charlie Malam
Few players in Liverpool history were more frustrating than Darwin Nunez. But, if he's available on a free transfer, there's actually a lot of sense in bringing him back.Hugo Ekitike might not play again until April while Alexander Isak's struggles to stay fit are well-documented. Federico Chiesa has the same problem but might leave anyway and Cody Gakpo is better from the left than at centre-forward.Though Liverpool will improve their attack this summer, it's clear their priority is to sign wide forwards. That makes sense given Ekitike will return eventually.But if Isak and Gakpo are your only two senior strikers for a 55-plus-game season, the alarm bells should be ringing louder than the Operation Anfield Exercise announcement.Especially given the demands of Andoni Iraola's tactics.Nunez is a massively inferior goalscorer to Isak, of course. But under Jurgen Klopp, the Uruguayan was a chance magnet and there are two things he guarantees: relentless movement and relentless pressing. Both of those suit Iraola.If Nunez would accept a rotational role and a pay cut from his Saudi wages, Liverpool should get him in on a free and hand him a two-year contract so he's playing with a point to prove.Liverpool don't have a single other attacker with an appetite for defending from the front like him, and look how much they missed players like Nunez, Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz last season.He'll still frustrate, but if he adds another body to the attack while freeing up funds for wingers, midfielders and defenders, it's a sensible signing while Ekitike recovers.