Liverpool ‘Expect’ £71m Forward to Leave This Summer Amid La Liga Interest – Report | OneFootball

Liverpool Prepare for Nunez Exit as Transfer Window Ramps Up

As Liverpool gear up for a new chapter under Arne Slot, the club’s approach to transfers has taken a strategic and bold turn. According to a report by Football Insider, the Reds are expected to sanction the departure of Darwin Nunez this summer, with Atletico Madrid leading the chase for the Uruguay international. With multiple high-profile arrivals planned, Nunez’s exit looks increasingly like a matter of when, not if.

Strategic Sales to Fund Rebuild

Liverpool have already secured Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen and are now pushing for two more marquee additions: Florian Wirtz and Milos Kerkez. Combined, these moves could cost the club close to £200 million. That figure naturally demands sales, and Nunez is at the forefront of Liverpool’s outbound transfer list.

Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider explains, “Obviously, there’s been lots of speculation over a lot of attacking players at Liverpool already this summer. Darwin Nunez, we expect him to go. Diogo Jota, there are question marks over him. Chiesa, is he going to stay or not?”

Photo: IMAGO

The writing has been on the wall for Nunez in recent months. Despite flashes of brilliance, his inconsistent form and apparent dissatisfaction with his role under Slot have made his Anfield future untenable. A move to Atletico Madrid could offer the 24-year-old a more prominent role and a return to a league where his explosive style may thrive.

Squad Rebalancing Under Slot

Arne Slot’s debut Premier League-winning season at Liverpool has earned him trust, and the current reshuffling appears to be led by his tactical blueprint. The potential exits of Nunez, Diogo Jota and even Federico Chiesa indicate that the club are reshaping their attacking unit to better fit Slot’s system.

Luis Diaz, meanwhile, seems set to stay despite firm interest from Barcelona. As per Football Insider, “Barcelona had an approach knocked back earlier in the week” for Diaz, underscoring Liverpool’s intent to keep players who fit their future style and plans.

Photo: IMAGO

Caoimhin Kelleher has already departed for Brentford, and Nunez may soon follow. With Jota and Chiesa also under scrutiny, Liverpool risk losing too many attacking assets. O’Rourke cautions, “I don’t think Liverpool would want to lose too many attacking players ahead of next season.”

Atletico Madrid Ready to Strike

Atletico Madrid have long admired Nunez and now see an opportunity to secure his services. The Spanish giants can offer Champions League football, a culturally familiar environment, and the kind of central striker role he’s struggled to fully grasp at Anfield.

Liverpool’s willingness to sell stems not just from financial necessity, but also a growing awareness that Nunez may never fully click in a team that thrives on efficiency and cohesion. He arrived as a raw but electric talent from Benfica, yet despite some iconic moments, he remains a player of great potential rather than proven consistency.

With Slot at the helm and a new identity forming, Liverpool are poised to cash in and reinvest in players more aligned to their manager’s vision.

Our View – Anfield Index Analysis

Darwin Nunez has always split opinion among Liverpool fans. For every miss, there’s been a moment of chaos that rattled defences and excited the Kop. But if this report holds true, and Nunez is truly set for an exit, it might be the best move for both parties.

In truth, under Slot, there’s no room for passengers. His Premier League title in year one wasn’t down to sentimentality or sticking with misfiring stars. If Nunez doesn’t fit his system, then cashing in and redirecting the funds into more tactically compatible players like Wirtz or Kerkez is smart business.

That said, fans will feel a tinge of disappointment. Nunez was a marquee signing, a statement of intent. Letting him go is an admission that the plan didn’t work. But Liverpool under Slot are clearly not interested in nostalgia. This is a side being built to win again and again, and tough calls are part of that journey.

What’s perhaps more surprising is the uncertainty around Diogo Jota. Injuries aside, he’s been a big-game player and one of Liverpool’s most reliable scorers. Letting both him and Nunez go could leave the Reds light in the final third unless their replacements are nailed-on successes.

The idea of Luis Diaz staying is a huge relief. He’s arguably been Liverpool’s most consistent attacking threat when fit and adds flair and fight. If Barcelona were seriously interested, knocking back their approach was absolutely the right decision.

All eyes now turn to how Liverpool reinvest. If the Frimpong-Wirtz axis is anything to go by, the ambition remains sky-high. Supporters just hope that the players coming in match the energy and identity this club has regained under Slot.