Liverpool splashed the cash to bring in Darwin Nunez from Benfica in the summer of 2022. The striker was expected to be a massive hit at Anfield. But that hasn’t exactly worked out for the player or for the club.
Nunez has impressed on occasion, with the Uruguay international finding the net 33 times from his 95 appearances so far. But time and again he has underwhelmed, often fluffing his lines at key times in the final third.
Somewhat surprisingly, though, the forward has been linked with an Anfield exit this summer. It could simply be talk as the transfer window approaches, but perhaps Nunez could be one of many star men to leave Liverpool alongside Jurgen Klopp.
Here are three strikers that the Reds may turn to if Nunez does decide to move on:
Benjamin Sesko (RB Leipzig)
Slovenia star Sesko is one of several players to have made the common transition from RB Salzburg to RB Leipzig, such as current Reds ace Dominik Szoboszlai and former Anfield man Naby Keita. And like the former with Hungary, Sesko is already a national treasure in Slovenia.
And now the 20-year-old could continue that similar pathway into the Premier League, although the Reds may find themselves in a battle for his services in the summer transfer window.
Fierce rivals Manchester United are also seemingly targeting the forward.
Sesko banged in 29 goals for Salzburg, with his scoring touch continuing in Germany. The young striker has 17 goals from 41 Leipzig appearances, and boasts plenty of big-game experience, having come up against the likes of Manchester City and Real Madrid in this season’s Champions League group stages.
Victor Osimhen (Napoli)
Signing Osimhen from Italian outfit Napoli last summer was on the minds of several top clubs. And that was very unsurprising given that the 25-year-old striker helped fire his club to a memorable Serie A title.
The forward bagged a phenomenal 26 goals from his 32 league appearances, adding five more in the Champions League for good measure.
But Napoli have endured a torrid title defence, with the club massively missing Osimhen when he left for Africa Cup of Nations duty earlier this year.
Remarkably, the Nigeria international still has 17 goals from 31 appearances so far this season. But perhaps a summer exit could be on the cards given the lack of European action for Napoli next season, with the club currently languishing in ninth place in the table.
Viktor Gyokeres (Sporting Lisbon)
Liverpool may not be looking to recruit Sporting Lisbon manager Ruben Amorim to their dugout next season, but they could target one of his star men.
In a remarkable rise, leading striker Gyokeres is set to be one of the hottest prospects this summer.
Only last season, the Sweden international was playing in the Championship with Coventry City. The 25-year-old registered 22 goals and 12 assists as his side fell short at the final hurdle, losing to Luton Town on penalties in the play-off final.
But Gyokeres secured a high-profile move to Portugal thanks to his superb campaign. And he has gone above and beyond the call of duty in his debut season, with the striker boasting absolutely stunning tallies of 41 goals and 15 assists from 48 appearances in all competitions.