Napoli End Pursuit of Darwin Nunez as Liverpool Striker’s Future Remains Uncertain

Napoli have told Liverpool that they will no longer pursue Darwin Nunez. The Serie A club were interested in the Liverpool striker but decided to sign Lorenzo Lucca instead. Now Nunez’s future remains uncertain, although there is still strong interest from Saudi Arabian clubs.

What happened?

Napoli had been in talks over a transfer for Nunez but couldn’t agree on a fee or a salary. They offered a bid worth €55 million, which Liverpool rejected, as they valued the player at €60 million and expected an offer of that amount or more according to recent reports. On the player’s side, Nunez wanted €6 million a year in wages, but the Serie A side were offering him less money. This meant the two sides ended up at a standstill. Therefore, the Reds made it clear that they weren’t selling the 26-year-old for a cheaper price, and the Italians decided to pursue another target. Napoli signed Udinese forward Lucca for €36 million, a significantly lower fee compared to what the Reds were demanding for their player.

Liverpool and Nunez: The situation now

Nunez has endured a mixed season at Anfield. Since Arne Slot was appointed, he has scored 11 goals and provided five assists in 39 appearances. However, Darwin Nunez has not started for Liverpool since April, which has raised questions about his future. At times, the Uruguayan has been a backup option for the likes of Folarin Balogun, Luis Diaz, and even teenage forward Melvin Simpson. That’s one of the reasons why he is considering leaving the club. Napoli’s interest seemed a good opportunity for him, and he even made it clear to the club that he was open to the idea of a move. Now that has fallen through, it remains to be seen what the future holds for the South American attacker. He was also linked with a move to Saudi towards the end of last season.

What next for Darwin Nunez and Liverpool?

Liverpool want a replacement signed if Nunez leaves Anfield, and their interest has moved towards Newcastle superstar Alexander Isak. Meanwhile, the Saudis are thought to have re-energised their interest in the player after Napoli dropped out of the race. It remains to be seen whether the Reds or their star manage to attract an offer from PIF clubs in the coming days. Nunez is being seen as a perfect short-term replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr. Liverpool welcomed back all their players who took part in international tournaments, including Nunez, earlier this week and are set to name him in the side that travels to Germany later today (Thursday) for the pre-season tour.