To think, when the Saudi Pro League started to throw it’s weight around and flex it’s oil-covered biceps, clubs such as Liverpool were warned that this could bring about the end of Europe’s domination of world football.
Instead, those nouveau riche Saudi Arabian outfits have been not so much a danger to Liverpool’s progress, and more a useful dumping ground for players no longer required at Anfield.
While Chelsea and Manchester City have also made a pretty penny, Liverpool earned around £50 million by selling Fabinho and Jordan Henderson to Al-Ittihad and Al-Ettifaq respectively. Given their ages, and how many miles they had on the clock heading into the summer of 2023, it is certainly hard to imagine The Reds enjoying such a windfall without a helping hand from Saudi Arabia.
The sales of Fabinho and Henderson, meanwhile, also freed up the funds Jurgen Klopp needed to restructure an ageing midfield. Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch all arrived that same summer.
The trio are now Arne Slot’s go-to midfield triumvirate, with a second-ever Premier League title now potentially just hours away.
Liverpool are preparing for another ‘big summer’, captain Virgil van Dijk explains.
Jamie Carragher believes a centre-forward and a left winger should be among six new first-team acquisitions. Carragher wants Hugo Ekitike at Liverpool, the free-scoring Eintracht Frankfurt frontman.
But with reports claiming Frankfurt want £85 million for the one-time Newcastle United target, Ekitike could fall some way beyond the reach of Slot’s budget.
Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty ImagesLiverpool could sell Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz to Saudi Arabia
That is, however, unless Liverpool can again use the Saudi Pro League as a means of getting high-earning and under-delivering players off the books while making a substantial profit along the way.
Fabrizio Romano reported Saudi Arabian interest in Darwin Nunez back in January. Three months later, that interest persists.
“Today, I can confirm again that this is the clear direction of the story,” Romano now explains. “Darwin Nunez is expected to go, to try something new. Darwin Nunez is expected to try a new chapter.
“So, Darwin Nunez can leave Liverpool in the summer transfer window and he is fully expected to do so.”
“Let’s see what happens with Saudi, because there is still interest from Saudi. There are more clubs interested around Europe, so there will be movement around Darwin, for sure. And, for Liverpool, the chance to make some money, some profit, and to reinvest on different players.”
Nunez the most likely to leave Anfield in Arne Slot’s second summer
Nunez is not, however, the only Liverpool player with Middle Eastern admirers.
And while Darwin is far more likely at this stage to end up in the desert than Luis Diaz, there could yet be another scenario in which two players swap Merseyside for the Middle East in the very same transfer window.
“Luis Diaz is a possibility to go. He is on the list of Saudi clubs. It is not guaranteed yet [that Luiz leaves although] it is still a strong possibility,” Romano adds. “For Darwin Nunez, it is almost a guarantee that he will leave Liverpool, if nothing crazy happens.
“He is expected to go and try a new chapter.”