**Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez is now “close” to completing a summer move to Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.**
The Uruguayan has enjoyed an impressive pre-season for the Reds, scoring five times, including against Athletic Bilbao on Monday evening.
That hasn’t done anything to alter Arne Slot’s stance on Nunez’s future, however, with the Liverpool striker expected to leave throughout this summer.
According to Romano on [_X_](https://x.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1952972908852048379), the 26-year-old is now “close” to joining Al-Hilal, with a “verbal agreement in place” with the Premier League champions:
_“EXCLUSIVE: Al Hilal are close to getting Darwin Nunez deal done after verbal agreement in place with Liverpool. Club to club agreement is done, while Al Hilal are in talks with Darwin over personal terms. Decision up to Nunez but talks underway, Inzaghi wants him.”_
**The right call by Liverpool**
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Nunez is loved by many Liverpool fans, with his character shining through during his three-year stay at Anfield, and [Mohamed Salah](https://www.empireofthekop.com/2024/12/08/salah-nunez-praise-favourite-teammate/) also speaking highly of him, calling him a player with “different skills” and adding:
_“Who do I most like to play with? It was Firmino. Now I feel like I generally like playing with Nunez. A lot of people don’t like him but I like playing with him.”_
Nunez has had his moments over the past three years, with his late double away to Brentford last season proving to be a big moment in the Premier League title race, for example.
Sadly, the negatives have still outweighed the positives overall, though, with too many unconvincing performances in front of goal, and frustration under both Slot and Jurgen Klopp when it comes to his link-up play leading the line.
This is exactly the right time for Liverpool to cash in on Nunez, considering he is still at a good age in his career, and while they won’t get back all the £85m they spent on him, a healthy amount should still come their way.
Liverpool supporters will only wish him well, but now is the time to push on and secure the services of Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak as the Uruguay international’s replacement.