Darwin Nunez has allegedly confirmed he wants to join Napoli while Newcastle United are reportedly fearful that Liverpool could bid for Alexander Isak
Darwin Nunez’s Liverpool career looks set to come to an end this summer. The Uruguayan struggled to establish himself under Arne Slot following the Dutchman’s appointment as head coach last year.
While the striker made 47 appearances last season and helped the Reds win the Premier League, he started just 17 times with only eight coming in the English top-flight. Meanwhile, returning seven goals and five assists, he scored in only two matches in 2025 and started just once in the Premier League (against relegated Southampton) after the turn of the year.
Signed in a potential club-record deal worth up to £85m from Benfica in the summer of 2022, the striker has scored 40 goals from 143 appearances in his three seasons with the club.
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But having also struggled for consistency under Slot’s predecessor, Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool look set to call time on the 26-year-old’s Anfield career this summer.
Despite his misfiring fortunes on Merseyside, the Uruguayan has his suitors. Napoli, Atletico Madrid and AC Milan have all been frequently linked, while he has also attracted interest from Saudi Arabia.
Liverpool are yet to receive any concrete offers for Nunez, as the ECHO reported last week. But it is believed interest has been declared to the player’s representation, with The Athletic reporting that Napoli are expected to make an offer in due course and the striker said to be keen on the move.
The Reds knocked back approaches from Saudi Arabia for Nunez in January as they prioritised the club’s Premier League title charge, though the Uruguayan later joked he would be open to a lucrative move to the Gulf State.
But he has now allegedly confirmed that he will be joining Napoli according to the Serie A outfit’s former midfielder, Walter Gargano.
The 40-year-old, who won 64 caps for Uruguay, spent eight years with Napoli between 2007 and 2015 after first moving to Europe.
But he later played alongside Nunez during the twilight of his own career, with the pair making nine appearances on the pitch together for Uruguayan side Penarol during the 2018 and 2019 seasons.
And Gargano claims that he recently spoke to his former team-mate as he tried to persuade him to sign for Napoli, with the striker confirming he wants to join the Serie A champions this summer.
“Nunez? The warmth of the Neapolitans would do him a lot of good,” Gargano said on radio channel Kiss Kiss Napoli. “I spoke to him about a week ago and I hope he really comes to Naples.
“I told him; ‘Go to Naples!’. He and his family will decide what to do with his future.
“He told me; ‘Yes, I’ll come to Naples right away. I’m waiting to close with Naples’.
“The Napoli squad, with De Bruyne and possibly with Nunez, makes a significant leap in quality. The club did well to choose [Antonio] Conte who values all the players.
“Today Napoli’s goal must be to go as far as possible in the Champions League. I will always be a Napoli fan, even if Darwin doesn’t arrive.”
Of course, Napoli first have to reach an agreement with Liverpool if Nunez is to sign for Antonio Conte’s side.
But with the striker seemingly edging closer to the Anfield exit door, his departure would also open the door to the Reds signing a new forward of their own.
Liverpool have long been tipped to bolster their attacking ranks this summer, and they continue to be linked with a number of high-profile names. But it remains to be seen who the Reds would choose to pursue, if they did indeed enter the market.
They are known admirers of Alexander Isak at least, with the striker previously on their radar when they signed Nunez in the first place.
Newcastle United are reportedly willing to make the Sweden international the highest earner in the club’s history in a bid to keep him, with The Times reporting club bosses are ready to open contract talks with Isak’s agent.
However, they also report that the Magpies are concerned that sides could test their transfer resolve next month.
Listing Liverpool are a side who compete for Isak’s signature, they insist the Reds have the funds to make a substantial bid for the striker despite their transfer outlay this summer already reaching over £200m, and that any new contract at Newcastle would not match the potential salary on offer at Anfield.
While Newcastle do not want to sell Isak, only time will tell if they are able to retain the services of their star centre-forward.
But with Liverpool poised to enter the striker market as Nunez seemingly edges closer to an Anfield exit, the Magpies would be forgiven if they are starting to feel a little twitchy.
