Liverpool outcast Darwin Nunez reportedly has a new suitor in the shape of Napoli, who are trying to sign the Uruguayan to complement the possible arrival of Kevin De Bruyne.
Antonio Conte‘s side – who are three points clear of Champions League finalists Inter Milan at the top of the Serie A table – are said to be in talks over a swoop for Manchester City great De Bruyne in the summer window.
The 33-year-old is apparently opening up to the idea of a move to Naples, although he was briefly linked with a shock transfer to Anfield too, speculation that was quickly shot down.
Napoli will not have to pay City a single penny for De Bruyne, although the Belgium international would still command a hefty wage and signing-on fee as a free agent.
Nevertheless, the Partenopei will still have plenty of transfer funds available to improve their squad elsewhere, and Corriere dello Sport claims that they also have eyes on a deal for Nunez.
Nunez to be offered Napoli escape route?
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The former Benfica man has been unable to find consistency in the English top flight ever since moving to Anfield in 2022, joining in a deal that could have made him Liverpool’s most expensive signing ever.
The Reds agreed to fork out £64m potentially rising to £85m for the Uruguay international, but he has blown hot and cold ever since and is struggling to force his way into Arne Slot‘s good books.
Nunez has only struck five goals from 27 Premier League appearances this season, and he has made the first XI on just eight occasions in the current top-flight campaign.
It has been alleged that Nunez’s recent lack of starts in the Premier League are due to a clause in his contract, which would force Liverpool to pay an extra £4.2m to Benfica if he features from the off in one more game.
Head coach Slot has denied that is the case, but he overlooked Nunez again for last weekend’s 3-1 loss to Chelsea, and the South American is also expected to be benched against Arsenal on Sunday.
Nunez was blocked from moving to the Saudi Pro League in the January transfer window given Liverpool did not have ample time to find a replacement, but the Premier League champions should be receptive to bids this summer.
The 25-year-old is likely to be on the radar of clubs in the Middle East once again, and he could expect a much higher wage in Saudi Arabia, whose financial powerhouses would also be able to fork out a higher sum for a transfer fee than Napoli.
The state of play with Liverpool’s attackers
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If Conte gets his way, Nunez might be one of two current Liverpool attackers being played through by De Bruyne next season, as Federico Chiesa is thought to be on Napoli’s radar too.
What the future holds for Harvey Elliott and Diogo Jota is also unclear, but Liverpool are said to be planning to sit down and open talks with Luis Diaz over an extension to his current contract, which runs out in 2027.
Cody Gakpo‘s short-term future is set in stone, though, as is Mohamed Salah‘s, and the Egyptian is currently celebrating equalling another Thierry Henry record on Friday morning.
