Liverpool are reportedly set to offload Darwin Nunez as they close in on a record-breaking deal for Bayer Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz. The Reds are said to be in talks with Leverkusen over Wirtz, and are already exploring ways to balance the books.
Arne Slot is eager to wrap up Liverpool's transfer business early this summer, with deals for Wirtz and Leverkusen's Jeremie Frimpong on the horizon. Frimpong has agreed to a £29.5 million move and a five-year contract, while an initial bid of £85m plus add-ons has been tabled for Wirtz.
Leverkusen, however, are holding out for a higher fee, valuing the 22-year-old at over £100m. If their demands are met, it would set a new transfer record for Liverpool, surpassing the £85m (comprising £64m plus add-ons) paid to Benfica for Nunez in June 2022.
Despite having funds from last summer's sole signing, Federico Chiesa from Juventus, Liverpool plan to boost their funds by selling surplus players. Nunez, who started just eight Premier League games under Slot this season and contributed seven goals and seven assists in 47 appearances, is expected to be sold.
The Daily Mail has revealed that Liverpool are eager to offload Nunez with the intention of using the proceeds to fund a new striking sensation. Atletico Madrid have shown interest in the Uruguayan forward, and a transfer could be beneficial for all involved.
Liverpool's radar includes Eintracht Frankfurt's Hugo Ekitike, RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko, and Atletico Madrid's Julian Alvarez. Ekitike, the 22-year-old French international who notched up 22 goals and 12 assists in 48 matches this season, is priced at a hefty £84 million by Frankfurt.
His impressive form has also caught the eye of Chelsea.
Frankfurt's sporting director Markus Krosche acknowledged the possibility of Ekitike's departure, telling Sport 1: "He's one of the most interesting strikers on the European market. Hugo has to decide that. I'm glad we have him. If he decides otherwise, that's our motto: If a player develops faster than us, we let him go."
Slot had previously addressed rumours that Nunez was being kept on the bench due to financial motives, specifically to avoid triggering an additional £4.2 million payment to Benfica, claims which Slot firmly dismissed.
It appears that the Uruguayan star's stint at Liverpool may be drawing to a close, as manager Slot looks to capitalise on the player's burgeoning market value. Speaking on the matter, Slot conveyed his uncertainty about the future, stating: "I don't know exactly what is going to happen. One of the main strengths we had this season is that everybody accepted his role.
"And his role sometimes could be to start every single game, hardly be taken off, sometimes be taken off. It could be sometimes not starting every single game, sometimes not playing hardly minutes."