There’s been a lot of buzz lately about Darwin Nunez and what’s next for the Liverpool striker.
After a challenging season at Anfield, it seems he’s ready to move on — with clubs across Europe and the Middle East lining up to take him in.
Let’s break down what’s really happening behind the scenes.
Nunez Signals He Wants Out, Napoli Leads the Chase
According to Walter Gargano, a former Uruguay and Penarol teammate of Nunez, the striker has openly told him he wants to leave Liverpool.
Gargano, who knows Napoli well from his time there, says Nunez is keen on a move to the Serie A champions.
In an interview with Napoli’s Kiss Kiss radio, Gargano revealed that Nunez told him: “Yes, I’ll come to Naples right away.
I’m waiting to close with Naples.” That’s a pretty strong hint that the transfer is close to being sealed.
Multiple Clubs Eye the Striker, But Napoli Is in Pole Position
Nunez has attracted interest from several clubs, including Atletico Madrid and Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal.
Still, Napoli appears to be the front-runner.
Italian transfer expert Alfredo Pedulla reports Napoli have already offered about €43 million (£36.7m) — not far from Liverpool’s asking price of €50 million (£42.7m) plus bonuses.
This suggests talks are serious and could wrap up soon.
A Mixed Spell at Liverpool: Promise and Frustration
When Nunez arrived from Benfica in 2022, Liverpool paid a hefty initial fee of £64 million, with potential add-ons pushing that to £85 million.
The expectations were sky-high for the 26-year-old striker known for his speed, strength, and goal-scoring ability.
He delivered reasonably well in his first two seasons, scoring 33 goals overall.
But last season was tough.
He started only eight Premier League games and scored just seven goals across all competitions, falling short of what fans hoped.
Manager Arne Slot’s Candid Criticism
Liverpool boss Arne Slot was open about his frustrations with Nunez’s performances.
After a key missed chance in a February match against Aston Villa, Slot pointed out that what bothered him most was not the miss itself but Nunez’s drop in workrate afterward.
Slot said: “You can miss a chance, but you cannot miss out on workrate… It is not part of the job of a No 9 to slow down in workrate.”
He stressed that a striker’s mindset should stay strong even after setbacks.
This candid feedback from Slot perhaps reflects why Nunez’s role at Liverpool shrank last season compared to under previous manager Jurgen Klopp.
Napoli’s Plans and Liverpool’s Search for a New Striker
Napoli coach Antonio Conte has been busy assembling a strong squad, including bringing in Kevin De Bruyne.
He now wants a sharp finisher to pair with his creative midfielders.
Liverpool, meanwhile, is reportedly open to selling Nunez but would like to bring in a new striker if the budget allows.
Alexander Isak of Newcastle is the ideal target, though his price tag could be even higher than Liverpool’s recent costly signing Florian Wirtz, whose fee is around £100 million rising with add-ons.