Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Darwin Nunez, Liverpool, Transfers
Ryan Smart
Liverpool have received an opening transfer offer for forward Darwin Nunez, according to reports.
Nunez signed for the Reds from Benfica for a fee of £85 million in the summer of 2022.
He scored 11 goals and provided eight assists for Liverpool in the Premier League last season, but inconsistency in front of goal has plagued him throughout his time at Anfield.
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This season, the Uruguayan has only four goals in 23 matches in all competitions, with Diogo Jota - when available - and Cody Gakpo often preferred to Nunez up front.
Whilst stating that he hasn't scored the goals that he would have liked this season, manager Arne Slot did defend Nunez's all-round game, telling reporters earlier this season: "For me, he has impact. He hasn't scored the amount of goals that he wants to score ... but he does have impact in his work-rate. He's part of a team that scores a lot of goals and is winning a lot.
"Of course, as a number nine you want to score more goals, and that's definitely what he wants as well. But I'm not only judging Mohamed Salah on his goals and Darwin on his goals - I also judge them on their work-rate and what they bring to the team."
However, it is being reported that the Reds could sell Nunez in the upcoming January transfer window.
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Italian news outlet AC Milan TMN are claiming that AC Milan have made contact with Liverpool over the initial loan signing of the Uruguayan in January, with an obligation to buy clause inserted as part of the deal.
It is reported that Milan are preparing to pay €5 million up front for Nunez for the six-month loan, with the obligation to buy worth a total of €45 million.
While that would still provide significant funds for Slot to bolster his squad with this summer, it would mean a major loss on the money spent to bring Nunez into the club in the summer of 2022 - which has divided fans.
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Milan are currently playing in the Champions League this season, though are already facing a battle to qualify next season as they sit eighth in Serie A and are nine points behind fourth-placed Lazio - but with two games in hand.
Manager Paulo Fonseca came under pressure to keep his job earlier this season but a big European win over Real Madrid at the Bernabeu eased some of that pressure, and the Portuguese boss now appears to want to turn to Nunez to help Milan finish their season on a strong note.