Nunez is packing his bags for Riyadh, trading Anfield’s Kop for Al Hilal’s deep pockets. After three seasons, 40 goals, and enough missed chances to fill a blooper reel, his Liverpool chapter is drawing to a close. The Saudi Pro League side will pay an initial £46m plus add-ons, while Liverpool pockets yet another tidy sum in a summer where sales are already touching £200m.
So, how does this play out for the Reds? Well, besides finding themselves short of a striker, they now have the enviable problem of splashing fresh cash in a transfer market that looks like Black Friday in slow motion.
Nunez Move: Why Al Hilal Over Milan or Others?
AC Milan tried to sneak in late, but let’s be honest—romantic Serie A charm cannot compete with Riyadh’s mega-chequebook. Nunez, still just 26, will link up with Simone Inzaghi, where finishing drills will probably come with hazard warnings. For Hilal, it’s a statement signing. For Liverpool, it’s an open invitation to rethink their attack.
Nunez Departure Opens Door for Liverpool Targets
With Hugo Ekitike already in, the Reds are reportedly pressing for Alexander Isak. Newcastle slapped a £150m sticker on him—basically saying, “look but don’t touch.” Yet, with Isak skipping preseason tours and avoiding new contracts, there’s an outside chance Liverpool pries him away. Still, don’t expect FSG to toss Monopoly money like oil sheikhs.
Author’s Take: A Goodbye and a What-Next?
Here’s my two cents: Nunez leaving is the right call. He was chaos incarnate—sometimes glorious, often exasperating. Liverpool can’t afford another season of “what could have been.” The real gamble isn’t losing him, it’s overpaying for the next shiny striker. If Isak’s price stays stratospheric, maybe sit tight. Football history reminds us—panic buys usually age worse than milk in the sun.