Liverpool misfit Darwin Nunez is set to leave the club after reaching an agreement in principle with a Saudi Pro League side.
According to Graeme Bailey via TBR Football, Darwin Nunez is living his final weeks at Liverpool, having agreed personal terms with the Saudi Pro League ahead of a summer move. No longer an integral part of Arne Slot’s plans, he has given the green light to the transfer. The Reds are now in talks with the league to get the deal over the line.
Graeme Bailey’s take on Darwin Nunez’s future
While speaking to TBR Football, Bailey said, “Liverpool have a lot going on, and sales are part of their summer as well as the major incomings. Diaz is done, but Nunez was always seen as the big sale.
“Liverpool respect Nunez hugely, they think he is a top talent but it has not worked out for him and he accepts that too. He has seen Wirtz and Ekitike come in and knows they want Isak – he knows there is little future for him. Nunez knows he is highly unlikely to get his move in Europe and that has seen him agree to a prospective move to Saudi Arabia.”
Liverpool broke the bank to sign Darwin Nunez from SL Benfica back in 2022. While he was an integral part of their first team under Jurgen Klopp, he failed to cement his spot in the starting XI. Arne Slot’s arrival last summer saw him go down the pecking order.
The Dutch manager is not impressed with his overall output and used him as more of a rotational option last season. While he was involved in 47 matches, Nunez racked up just over 2,000 minutes of first-team action.
Following the arrival of Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike, the Uruguayan international is aware that his game time could go down further. Meanwhile, the Reds are also in the race for Alexander Isak’s services, which suggests Nunez’s time at Liverpool is up.
Nunez to move to the Middle East
Darwin Nunez is well aware of the situation, and his agents have been working hard to find him a new deal. While he prefers staying in Europe, no top club is willing to match Liverpool’s asking price of over £60 million.
Only Saudi Pro League giants, Al-Hilal and Al-Ahli, are ready to pay that big a fee for the 26-year-old. Both clubs are looking to add more firepower to their attack, and they believe Nunez could be the marquee signing that helps them take the next step.
Darwin Nunez’s camp has been in talks with the representatives of the clubs owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Funds, and they have agreed on personal terms in principle for their client to leave Liverpool. With the green light from the player’s end, the Reds are in talks with the Saudi Pro League as they look to agree on the final fee of the transfer.