TBR Football can exclusively reveal that Darwin Nunez has agreed a deal in principle to leave Liverpool this summer.
Darwin Nunez joined Liverpool in 2022 and has scored 40 goals in 143 appearances in red.
And whilst Nunez has impressed Ian Rush in pre-season over the last few weeks, he’s seemingly coming to the end of his time at Anfield.
Earlier in the summer TBR Football shared that Saudi Pro League clubs were ready to pay big for Nunez amid links to Napoli in Italy.
And given that Hugo Ekitike is already impressing at Liverpool and the club are exploring a potential move to bring Alexander Isak to Anfield, Nunez is now nearing an exit.
Exclusive: Darwin Nunez has agreed personal terms in principle with Saudi Pro League
Chief correspondent Graeme Bailey can now confirm that Liverpool are in talks with the Saudi Pro League about a deal for Nunez.
In fact, Nunez’s camp have now agreed personal terms in principle for the striker to leave the club.
As it stands, a deal with a Saudi club has not yet been agreed, but TBR understands that talks are progressing.
Photo by Kenta Harada/Getty Images
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A move to take Nunez to Napoli fell down because the Italian club would not match Liverpool’s asking price, which is over £60m.
However, that is something which Saudi clubs Al-Hilal and Al-Ahli are willing to do.
Providing further insight, Bailey explained: “Liverpool have a lot going on, and sales are part of their summer as well as the major incomings. Diaz is done but Nunez was always seen as the big sale.
“Liverpool respect Nunez hugely, they think he is a top talent but it has not worked out for him and he accepts that too. He has seen Wirtz and Ekitike come in and knows they want Isak – he knows there is little future for him.
“Nunez knows he is highly unlikely to get his move in Europe and that has seen him agree to a prospective move to Saudi Arabia.”
Nunez made a clear statement of ambition when he first joined Liverpool
Liverpool, who have already sold Luis Diaz to Bayern Munich this summer, told Nunez earlier in the summer that he was not part of their plans moving forward.
And whilst Nunez’s Liverpool career might not have panned out quite as he expected, he has still achieved one of his key goals at Anfield.
In his first interview after signing for Jurgen Klopp’s side, who was manager at the time, Nunez spoke about his ambition to win trophies at Liverpool.
He said: “That’s one of the reasons why I came here to Liverpool – to win trophies and titles. I want to win a lot of trophies at Liverpool.”
And in just two seasons at the club, Nunez has a Premier League and League Cup medal.
Perhaps in an ideal world the Uruguay international would continue to lift honours at Anfield, but with Liverpool keen to sign Isak from Newcastle United as mentioned, there would be very little room left for Nunez to thrive.
Slot once praised Nunez’s ‘incredible’ work rate in training, but that clearly hasn’t been enough to win the number nine spot long-term.