Liverpool have decided against re-signing Darwin Nunez this summer, according to Football Insider, as the striker has been linked with a return to Anfield.
The Reds are on the lookout for potential forward options in the market, having struggled to find many goals last season compared to the prior Premier League campaign.
Wingers are a priority, with Victor Munoz already signing from Osasuna, while talks are ongoing to sign Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig this summer.
A versatile striker has also been suggested as an option, with Hugo Ekitike's long-term injury leaving Alexander Isak as the only natural centre-forward option in the squad.
Amid the low-cost options suggested has been Nunez, but a move now seems highly unlikely.
Liverpool Decide Against Darwin Nunez Return
Darwin Nunez | UruguayVincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports via Reuters
Liverpool have been linked with a return for Nunez, as the former striker appears to be available as a free agent in the coming weeks of the transfer window.
It was only last year that the Reds banked £56.6 million for the Uruguayan international, as he made the move to Saudi Arabia with Al-Hilal.
The pacey forward has struggled in his time there, however, as he was unregistered from the league competition for the second half of the campaign after the arrival of Karim Benzema.
That has led to discussions of a potential free transfer this summer, should his contract be torn up by mutual consent in the coming weeks of the market.
However, despite those links to Liverpool, Football Insider claims that no surprise return will be on the cards, conflicting with reports that a deal had been agreed for after his World Cup campaign with Uruguay.
Instead, the report suggests that Newcastle United are ramping up interest in the star, which could see him return to the Premier League once again.
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When Could Liverpool Face Darwin Nunez?
darwin nunez al hilal
If Nunez does return to the Premier League with Newcastle, then Liverpool won't have to wait long to get a proper reunion with the star striker.
The Reds take on the Magpies in the opening match of the new season, and the 26-year-old could add another layer of spice onto an already feisty affair.
There is no love lost for Liverpool in the North-East, following the past few years of transfer activity. The Merseyside outfit hijacked Newcastle's deal for Hugo Ekitike last summer, before unsettling and eventually signing Alexander Isak late in the window.
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That has been the foundation for their frustration, but that may only grow further, after Liverpool hijacked Newcastle's deal for Victor Munoz this summer to repeat the moves of last summer.
It should all play a part in a fiery St. James' Park atmosphere, one that Nunez could help contribute to with a move to Newcastle.