After signing Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, and Milos Kerkez to boost the form in the offseason, Liverpool remains in search of an additional No. 9 to strengthen their squad, aiming for consistent championship-level success.
Given that the club has the potential to spend up to £200M on transfers under the PSR rule, according to Liverpool Echo, there’s no excuse for Liverpool not to explore other options amid ongoing rumors about their current forwards; Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota, and the certain-to-leave Darwin Nunez.
While many Kopites will miss Nunez, who is known for his passion and surprising moments of brilliance in response to skeptics, the parting process seems natural, mainly due to his underperforming production when compared to his high transfer fee (£85 million) and the expectations that came with it.
So what went wrong with Nunez at Liverpool?
Nunez’s three years at Anfield: Highs and Lows
Nunez arrived at Liverpool in July 2022 and almost immediately showed why the Reds invested heavily.
In his three seasons, he made 143 appearances, scoring 40 goals and laying on 26 assists across all competitions—roughly a goal involvement every 2.3 games.
He adapted quickly to England’s pace and physicality, notching 15 goals and 4 assists in 42 outings during his debut campaign under Jurgen Klopp.
By year two, he’d stepped up further, contributing 18 goals in 53 matches, including a mid-season burst where he struck six times in eight league games.
When on form, Nunez’s direct running and explosive bursts unsettled defenses, earning credit for his work ethic and dynamics.
Whether pressing from the front or ghosting into space behind defenders, he delivered match-winning moments against top-flight opponents as a No. 9.
But sometimes people couldn’t just buy his form with a reckless mindset. In the Premier League alone, Núñez missed 48 big chances over his three seasons—the second-worst tally in the league during that span.
Liverpool might have to wave goodbye to this passionate guy, as we’ve watched enough of his awkward finishes, who often turns clear sight of goal into agonizing near-misses.
Statistics also unveiled that his expected goals (xG) far outstripped his actual return. In his three PL seasons with the Reds, Nunez totaled a 33.79 xG, per StatMuse, while only recording 25 goals in 95 league appearances.
This stark contrast suggests his struggle of hitting the target on the frontline, leaving Liverpool wishing he’d been sharper when it mattered most.
This season reveals that Nunez may not be a good fit for Arne Slot’s advanced, possession-heavy system, which demands balanced control and constant support from teammates.
With 47 outings across all sorts of matches, he only tallied seven goals (lowest in his three-year Liverpool career) and five assists.
Think about Roberto Firmino, a former No. 9 legend who thrived by linking midfield and attack with intelligent movement and vision.
Nunez’s direct style seems more ruthless and isolated from the built-in. As the season went on, his goal and assist numbers dipped, and he logged his fewest Liverpool starting league appearances (eight) of the past three years—clear signs that his low output simply didn’t fit the system, and the separation between him and the club became inevitable.
What’s Next for Nunez
The latest report suggests that Napoli had verbally tabled an offer around £50-million for Nunez, which his former teammate Walter Gargano later confirmed he will move to the Italian side.
Under Napoli’s manager, Antonio Conte, who just led Napoli to the Serie A title, Nunez could rediscover the confidence that deserted him at Liverpool.
With Napoli pursuing other high-profile signings and Liverpool valuing him at up to £58.4 million, a deal seems soon to be done, opening the door for Nunez to rejuvenate his career and for Liverpool to reinvest in another striker suited for its progressing system.