Hypothesis over Mohamed Salah’s future at Liverpool continues to dominate headlines, with the Egyptian but to signal a contract extension past this season. Nonetheless, it has now emerged that one other key Liverpool ahead was on the point of making a blockbuster transfer to Saudi Arabia in January.
The Saudi Professional League’s pursuit of elite expertise is well-documented. However whereas Salah stays a first-rate goal for golf equipment within the Center East, contemporary reviews recommend that one other Liverpool attacker was very near signing for Al-Nassr—the identical membership that boasts Cristiano Ronaldo and former Reds star, Sadio Mane in its ranks.
The participant in query? Darwin Nunez. In accordance with a number of reviews, together with Fabrizio Romano and the Every day Mail, Al-Nassr made two official bids for the Uruguayan ahead in January, with the second supply exceeding $79 million plus add-ons. The Saudi membership was desirous to companion Nunez with Cristiano Ronaldo, seeing him as the proper long-term resolution for his or her assault.
The truth is, negotiations had superior considerably, and Al-Nassr was reportedly “very shut” to finalizing a deal. Talks had even reached the stage the place the monetary phrases between the participant and the membership had been agreed upon, with the Saudi big assured that they might persuade Liverpool to half methods with their $89 million signing.
Nonetheless, regardless of the profitable supply, Liverpool finally determined to reject the deal, not due to the funds concerned, however resulting from the dearth of time to safe an acceptable alternative. “Liverpool’s refusal to promote Nunez was not because of the funds concerned, however somewhat a concern of getting to discover a alternative because the switch deadline inched nearer,” Fabrizio Romano reported.
Al-Nassr opted to maneuver on
With Arne Slot’s squad competing on a number of fronts, together with the Premier League and Europa League, the membership reportedly felt it was too dangerous to lose a key striker halfway via the season. Liverpool’s administration knew that January was a troublesome time to seek out high-quality replacements, and somewhat than speeding right into a panic purchase, they opted to maintain Nunez at Anfield—not less than for now.
After failing to safe the Uruguayan, the Riyadh aspect rapidly shifted their focus to different targets, finally signing Jhon Duran from Aston Villa for the same price. The Colombian ahead was seen as a powerful different, however Saudi golf equipment have not given up on Nunez.
In accordance with Romano, Saudi Professional League officers nonetheless view the Liverpool ace as a prime goal for the summer season window and will return with one other main supply in 2025. With Saudi Arabia’s ongoing undertaking to lure world-class expertise, there’s a robust perception that the Premier League aspect could possibly be extra open to negotiations on the finish of the season, particularly if Nunez doesn’t absolutely set up himself underneath Slot.
What does future maintain for Nunez?
Whereas Nunez stays a Liverpool participant, his long-term future is way from sure. The 25-year-old striker has had a blended spell at Anfield, displaying glimpses of brilliance but in addition scuffling with inconsistency in entrance of aim.
Slot has admitted that becoming Nunez into his tactical setup has been a problem, and whereas the membership continues to again him, they’re additionally ready to reassess his state of affairs in the summertime.
“The membership plan to reassess Nunez’s future in the summertime and will look to money in on the €85 million signing for the suitable value,” Romano said. Nonetheless, with Al-Nassr already having spent over $67 million on Duran, they might not return for Nunez within the subsequent window—leaving the door open for different Saudi golf equipment to make a transfer.
