When he made the £85 million transfer to Liverpool in 2022 on the behest of Jurgen Klopp, Darwin Nunez was slated to be crucial cog in a obligatory rebuild.
Three years on, that has patently failed. Regardless of his memorable moments, a price of 40 objectives and 22 assists in 143 video games removed from justifies the unusual determination to maneuver away from the Roberto Firmino mould in the direction of a standard No. 9.
Nunez can be simply as necessary this summer season, nonetheless, solely in a really totally different method.
Liverpool are set to chop ties with their maverick centre-forward with Napoli, AC Milan and Atletico Madrid amongst his suitors together with the money-movers in Saudi Arabia, and when his switch goes by it may start a domino impact.
There may be little doubt {that a} substitute is required, and people working inside the halls of the AXA Coaching Centre and in Fenway Sports activities Group’s places of work in London and Boston are assessing a lot of choices so as to add to Arne Slot‘s squad.
However after a busy begin to the switch window has seen a club-record deal for Florian Wirtz prioritised together with the addition of full-backs Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez, there’s additionally a way that Liverpool might want to stability the books.
That’s not the say the cash isn’t there to spend, as ongoing success and a prolonged interval of low-key enterprise has allowed FSG to bankroll a regeneration of the squad in Slot’s picture.
Nevertheless shifting Nunez is important earlier than Liverpool herald a participant to inherit his No. 9 shirt.
The Darwin cash and a domino impact
It stands to motive that any funds introduced in from promoting the Uruguayan will affect the extent of spending obtainable for a brand new striker, not solely within the general switch payment however the best way wherein a deal is structured.
There could possibly be greater funds on supply within the Saudi Professional League, nevertheless it has already been communicated that Nunez would favor to remain in Europe, and particularly Spain or Italy, which might require a extra difficult negotiation.
Liverpool would clearly not countenance a loan-to-buy settlement as golf equipment in Serie A usually favor, however there could must be extra flexibility by way of worth and funds.
Recouping their whole £85 million spend appears out of the query, with a valuation nearer to £50 million extra lifelike and affordable.
That may solely add to figures obtainable to Richard Hughes in his work supported by Michael Edwards and in session with Slot, and as soon as that’s secured it may then permit Liverpool to maneuver into the market.
A scarcity of motion in relation to high-profile No. 9s is unlikely to be a coincidence: promoting golf equipment can be biding their time to maximise worth, shopping for golf equipment can be awaiting readability over potential offers and gamers can be holding out for his or her most well-liked strikes.
There’s a feeling that at the very least a kind of strikers slated for a giant transfer this summer season is ready for Liverpool to make their determination.
Ekitike or Isak?
Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike is attracting curiosity not solely from Liverpool but additionally Man United and Chelsea, with sure sources speculating that his most well-liked vacation spot is Anfield – subsequently delaying any dedication elsewhere.
However there’s additionally a sense that Ekitike is probably not the No. 1 selection for the likes of Hughes and Slot – significantly as Frankfurt maintain agency with a €100 million asking worth – with it extensively reported that Newcastle‘s Alexander Isak could be their perfect candidate.
The state of affairs round Isak is especially troublesome: not solely have Newcastle strengthened their hand by qualifying for the Champions League however the Swede remains to be contracted to 2028 and they’re resolved to maintain him if potential.
A price ticket of £150 million has been mooted, if Newcastle will promote in any respect, and it stays to be seen whether or not Liverpool are prepared or capable of break their switch file with two £100 million-plus offers in a single summer season.
Hypothesis over Isak’s future has not gone away, although, which suggests the participant himself is conserving his choices open and will finally push for a switch.
Maybe that’s the place Nunez’s future is available in, as the primary domino to topple earlier than the remaining tumble in a neat No. 9 form.
Related could possibly be mentioned of Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez – whose future is but to be conclusively decided – and even Napoli’s Victor Osimhen; each mentioned to be of curiosity to Liverpool and whose names may come up in negotiations for Nunez.
Liverpool can be kingmakers
In switch home windows passed by Liverpool could have been thought-about one of many also-rans on this saga, however a twentieth league title, a revamp in construction and a daring, new strategy beneath Slot has clearly shifted the dynamic.
The facility is again within the fingers of these on Merseyside, emboldened by their capacity to fend off Bayern Munich and Man Metropolis to signal Wirtz, and so they could rightly be positioned as kingmakers within the No. 9 market.
Nunez seems on the coronary heart of this, and Liverpool could think about themselves lucky {that a} participant who has persistently flattered to deceive is attracting the dimensions of curiosity he’s.
Liverpool have earned a fame as opportunistic, relatively than foolhardy, and their confidence in holding out for the precise participant is receiving growing ranges of reward – and that may be no totally different in promoting Nunez first earlier than advancing on their perfect No. 9.
Whether or not that’s Isak, Ekitike, Alvarez or one other striker altogether, it appears as if the panorama is now reliant on Liverpool’s least dependable attacker.
