Darwin Nunez had a night to forget as Uruguay began their World Cup campaign, and his transfer situation has taken a twist. The former Liverpool striker is keen on a return to the Premier League, but not with the Reds.
No Return to Liverpool
Nunez left Liverpool in a £46m deal last summer. Reports claimed he had agreed a free transfer back to Anfield, set to be announced this week. However, the Liverpool Echo reports that club officials and the player's agent have denied this. The Uruguay international will not return to the club where he scored 40 goals in 143 appearances after signing from Benfica in 2022.
Newcastle and Chelsea Interest
Newcastle United have been monitoring Nunez for some time, as they seek new goalscoring options. They were keen on the striker when he was at Benfica. According to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, Chelsea are also interested. New manager Xabi Alonso is assessing his options, and Nunez is part of Marcelo Bielsa's Uruguay squad for this summer's World Cup.
Barcelona have also been linked. The Catalan giants have struggled in their bid to sign Julian Alvarez from Atletico Madrid, and Nunez would be a cheaper alternative to replace Robert Lewandowski.
Free Transfer and Wages
The 26-year-old is expected to be available on a free transfer after an agreement to cancel his contract with Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal. However, his performances have dipped. Nunez has 13 goals in 38 appearances for Uruguay but played only 45 minutes in their World Cup opener against Saudi Arabia before being substituted. He has barely featured in six months after being dropped from Al-Hilal's squad due to foreign player limits following the signing of Karim Benzema.
Nunez earns a reported £400,000 per week, which would need to decrease significantly for a Premier League return. While available on a free, it is debatable whether Newcastle or any club would pay the wages he could command.
