It will be difficult for ARNE SLOT to win over Darwin Nunez after Liverpool prevented a high-profile deal to Al Nassr this week. Liverpool informed the Saudi Pro League team that Nunez was not for sale at any price, despite their desire to acquire him before completing their £64 million transfer for Aston Villa’s Jhon Duran. Nunez would have enjoyed the opportunity to talk to Al Nassr, but he has missed a lot of the season with Liverpool. Liverpool reportedly turned down a Saudi club’s first £70 million approach early in the transfer window.
Slot claimed a slight illness as the reason for leaving the Uruguayan striker, who Liverpool paid £85 million for from Benfica in 2022, out of the team for Wednesday’s Champions League loss to PSV. Before Saturday’s Premier League match, the 25-year-old traveled to Bournemouth with the rest of the team and was able to work out yesterday.
Darwin Nunez’s Saudi transfer chance disappears
Throughout Arne Slot’s first season as manager, Liverpool has maintained that Nunez is not for sale and that squad depth is crucial as the Reds continue to aim for four different types of triumph. Although Liverpool is pleased to keep the 25-year-old on board for the time being, it is said that the club anticipates a strong market for Nunez during the summer transfer window should it decide to sell him at the end of the current campaign.
This was made evident earlier this month when Liverpool rejected the astronomically exorbitant deal for Nunez from Al-Hilal, another Saudi Pro League team. The Reds refused to sell, even though Al-Hilal was prepared to pay £62 million ($85 million) for Nunez’s services. According to The Telegraph, if the transfer had been allowed, Nunez would have received £29 million ($36 million) a year, or an astounding £560,000 ($690,000) each week.