Liverpool are set for a big summer in the transfer market and one area they need to strengthen is up front, with misfiring forward Darwin Nunez likely to leave the club
Darwin Nunez was absent from the matchday squad as Liverpool moved one step closer to the Premier League title by beating West Ham 2-1 on Sunday. Nunez watched the match alongside the injured Trent Alexander-Arnold, with the pair sat behind the substitutes’ bench.
The forward was absent due to illness, with Reds boss Arne Slot stating after the game: “He went in yesterday [from training]. He didn’t feel well, that’s why he went in and couldn’t be in the team today.”
However, Nunez’s absence was not felt as an early goal from Luis Diaz and a late header from Virgil van Dijk earned Liverpool all three points after Andy Robertson’s own goal gave them a brief scare.
Nunez has struggled for form so far this season, managing just seven goals in 42 appearances across all competitions. Diogo Jota has outscored him despite missing two months of action through injury, while Luis Diaz has proved a capable deputy with six goals in 11 games as a centre-forward this season.
And now that top scorer Mohamed Salah has signed a new two-year deal and club captain Van Dijk is expected to follow suit, Liverpool can now turn their attention to other priorities in the transfer market.
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The Reds are expected to have to sign a new right-back, with Trent Alexander-Arnold set to join Real Madrid on a free transfer, but strengthening their forward line will also be a priority. Nunez has been heavily linked with a move away and it would not be a surprise if Liverpool moved him on.
Atletico Madrid and clubs in Saudi Arabia are said to be interested in his services and there have been signs that Slot is running out of patience with Nunez, who cost Liverpool an initial £64million when he joined from Benfica in 2022.
Slot publicly criticised the forward’s attitude and work-rate after a disappointing miss when Liverpool drew 2-2 with Aston Villa earlier this year. “I would prefer him to score but the word ‘chance’ says it all,” Slot said after the game.
“It’s a chance so it’s not 100 per cent sure that the ball goes in, and players miss chances. That I can accept but what was a bit harder for me to accept was his behaviour after that chance.
“I think it got too much in his head, where he wasn’t the usual Darwin that works his a** off and makes sure he helps the team… that is something we will talk about.”
When pressed on his comments ahead of Liverpool’s next game, Slot explained: “First of all, I helped him by saying you can miss a chance. I wasn’t only hard on him. But for the second time in a row I wasn’t happy with his work effort, against Wolves and against Villa.
“I always try to be honest with my players and be honest as I can to you guys as well where I always try to protect my players so I don’t say he never worked hard. I know him differently. I know him at Villa at home where he made a 100 metre sprint and scored a goal, I know him when he came on at City at home and was pressing really aggressively and wins the ball back and we score.
“But I can’t accept if a player doesn’t give everything. That is clear. I can accept it once but twice was a bit too much. That’s why I addressed it.”
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