Arsenal
Darwin Nunez is in talks with Saudi Professional League facet Al-Hilal, based on native sources, following a private request from their head coach Simone Inzaghi.
Nunez had been a precedence goal for Serie A facet Napoli earlier than a proposed deal fell by attributable to a gulf in valuations from Liverpool and the Italian champions.
Napoli as an alternative signed Italy worldwide Lorenzo Lucca from Udinese, leaving Nunez’s most probably vacation spot as Saudi Arabia.
Although Liverpool rejected approaches from the Center East in January that won’t be the case this summer time, with the intention to promote after bringing in Hugo Ekitike and with formidable plans to signal Alexander Isak subsequent.
In response to Saudi newspaper Al Riyadh, new Al-Hilal head coach Inzaghi has requested membership officers to signal Nunez – and talks are actually underway.
Isak can also be thought of a goal for Al-Hilal however with the Swede anticipated to remain in Europe – and seemingly with a record-breaking transfer to Liverpool – Nunez is their subsequent focus.
Switch journalist Ben Jacobs has claimed that “inside talks [are] going down over whether or not to strategy Liverpool,” with their price ticket already recognized.
Liverpool are looking for at the least €70 million (£61m) and maybe as excessive as €80 million (£70m) for his or her No. 9, knowledgeable by a bid from Saudi facet Al-Nassr in January.
Nunez has, in fact, travelled with Arne Slot‘s squad for the pre-season tour of Hong Kong and Japan and will begin towards AC Milan on Saturday.
However progress might be anticipated both earlier than their flight to Japan or extra realistically upon Liverpool’s return to the UK on the finish of the month.
A flurry of targets within the opening two friendlies of the summer time – one towards Preston and a hat-trick towards Stoke – could once more gas hopes that Nunez might nonetheless cement himself as an elite striker for the membership.
However that would seem a forlorn endeavour, with the Uruguayan having struggled for consistency in three seasons now since his arrival from Benfica.
Liverpool have already sanctioned the £79 million signing of Ekitike – a striker of confirmed high quality and huge potential – whereas they might additionally pay upwards of £120 million for Isak after he informed Newcastle of his want to depart.
That would depart little room for Nunez who, having been signed for a then club-record £85 million in 2022, couldn’t be thought of a third-choice choice.
Whereas Saudi Arabia could also be considered as a room of forgotten toys from these in Europe, based on Liverpool journalist David Lynch there’s a “willingness to go there” on Nunez’s half.
