Liverpool ‘contacted’ for Darwin Nunez transfer but Man Utd star could ruin sale plans

Darwin Nunez has been heavily linked with an exit from Liverpool after falling down the pecking order under manager Arne Slot, who started the Uruguayan forward just seven times in the 2024-25 Premier League season

Liverpool have reportedly been contacted by Serie A side Napoli over striker Darwin Nunez, according to reports, but their interest in Manchester United forward Rasmus Hojlund could complicate the deal.

Nunez joined Liverpool for £85million in 2022 but has had mixed success at Anfield and fell down the pecking order under manager Arne Slot this season.

The Uruguayan has been strongly linked with an exit from Liverpool after he made just eight starts in the Premier League under Slot and had to settle for appearances in cup competitions as he scored just seven times in total.

The 25-year-old will be desperate for regular game time ahead of Uruguay possibly appearing at the 2026 World Cup next summer. Now, according to Football Italia, Napoli have reportedly reached out to Liverpool over a move.

It says the club have promised boss Antonio Conte a raft of new signings after they won the Serie A title and the Italian is eager to secure another striker that can compete with Romelu Lukaku up front.

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The report adds Napoli are “pushing” for Nunez, but might struggle to agree a fee given that Liverpool paid so much for his services three years ago and won’t want to take a big loss on profit.

Nunez scored 34 goals in 41 appearances for Benfica in his final season in 2021-22 but only managed 15 in his debut season. He then scored 18 in 2023-24 in Jurgen Klopp’s last campaign before opportunities began drying up under Slot.

It goes on to say that Napoli could turn to United star Hojlund as an alternative, which would be a blow for Liverpool as they look to balance the books in the event that they sign Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz – who is being priced at £126m.

A move to Napoli for Hojlund would see him return to Italy’s top flight two years after he left Atalanta in a £72m deal.

Hojlund has failed to impress since arriving at Old Trafford and managed only four goals in the Premier League last season, having scored ten in the previous campaign.

Napoli have already been quick to make their first signing of the summer transfer window after announcing the arrival of Kevin de Bruyne on a free transfer from Manchester City.

De Bruyne was given a hero’s welcome after jetting into Naples – and the club revealed his signing by uploading a picture of the Belgian star sitting on the throne, with the caption: “King Kev is here.”

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