Darwin Nunez ‘to leave’ Al Hilal, free move and Premier League return mooted | OneFootball

Darwin Nunez has mutually terminated his Al Hilal contract, The Mirror reports, leaving the striker set to be available on a free transfer this summer and fuelling talk of a Premier League return.

Nunez only joined the Saudi Pro League side from Liverpool last summer for €53 million. Liverpool had paid a then club-record €85 million for the Uruguayan about four years earlier, and Newcastle United and Chelsea are said to be monitoring his situation.

His registration was withdrawn in the winter window after Karim Benzema’s arrival at Al Hilal, with the league’s foreign-player rule capping squads at 10 foreigners, eight over-20s and two under-20s.

Before that, Nunez struggled to meet expectations, contributing nine goals and five assists in 22 appearances. Since arriving in early February, Benzema has matched that return in 10 fewer outings.

With the World Cup looming this summer, Nunez scored twice in his final AFC Champions League group game, and his last competitive club appearance came on 16 February. He came on as a late substitute against England and Algeria at the end of March. He was omitted for the round-of-16 exit in April, making his national-team place look increasingly uncertain, though those minutes could at least help him keep a squad spot.

Source: Goal.com