Darwin Nunez is edging closer to a Liverpool exit after three years with the club after holding talks with Al-Hilal
Darwin Nunez is reportedly close to an exit from Liverpool
Darwin Nunez is reportedly close to an exit from Liverpool
(Image: Getty Images)
Darwin Nunez is edging closer to a Liverpool exit after three years with the club after holding talks with Al-Hilal. The Saudi Pro League outfit have reportedly now reached an agreement in principle with the Reds.
The Athletic reports that the deal would be worth roughly £46m plus add-ons. However, it is understood that while Nunez has indicated a willingness to make the move, it is unclear yet whether he has a full agreement in place to join the Middle Eastern outfit.
As a result, club sources are remaining tight-lipped regarding the 26-year-old's future despite the ongoing speculation. Should Nunez agree to the switch, he will travel to Germany to undergo a medical and finalise the transfer.
But if not and his situation is not resolved before the weekend, Liverpool will continue to plan for Sunday’s Community Shield against Crystal Palace at Wembley with the Uruguayan as part of their thinking.
Nunez and his representatives are understood to have been in talks with the Saudi club, having seen a potential move to Napoli collapse earlier in the summer.
The Serie A champions did make an offer for the striker, but it fell significantly short of the Reds' valuation. Napoli then opted to end their interest and switch their attention to other targets.
Since then, Nunez has continued to be linked with the likes of both AC Milan and Al-Hilal. However, the Italian giants are unlikely to be able to match the Saudi outfit’s offer, leaving the forward with a decision to make as he weighs up whether to trade European football for the Gulf State.
The Uruguay international struggled to convince consistently under Arne Slot last season, starting only 17 of his 47 appearances and scoring seven goals.
However, he has enjoyed an excellent pre-season, scoring five goals from four outings for the Reds.
Nunez scored off the bench away to Preston North End before netting a hat-trick in a behind-closed-doors meeting with Stoke City ahead of Liverpool’s tour of the Far East.
And while he missed the clash with AC Milan in Hong Kong due to a minor injury, he came on as a substitute in the Reds’ 3-1 win over Yokohama F. Marinos in Japan.
Nunez then scored in Liverpool’s 4-1 victory over Athletic Bilbao as he lined up in the first of two friendlies against the La Liga outfit. Celebrating by placing his hand on the club crest on his shirt, his reaction when leaving the field did little to quell the feeling that his Anfield career might come to an end this summer.
He would later further fuel speculation by posting a cryptic post on social media as he shared a red heart emoji along with pictures from the game.
Hugo Ekitike started the second outing in Slot’s stronger side after joining the club in an initial £69m switch from Eintracht Frankfurt last month. He is expected to make his debut against Crystal Palace on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Liverpool continue to monitor Alexander Isak’s situation at Newcastle United after having an £110m bid rejected for the striker on Friday.
The Swede was made to train alone on Wednesday, instructed to report to the Magpies’ training base in the afternoon after his team-mates had taken part in a group session earlier in the day.