Former Liverpool star emerges as a shock target for Barcelona – report | OneFootball

It is no secret that Barcelona are currently on the lookout for a new striker, as they look to find a long-term replacement for Robert Lewandowski.

Julian Alvarez is the undisputed top choice for the Blaugrana, but negotiations with Atletico Madrid have proven to be difficult. That is why the club have been linked with moves for other strikers across Europe as well.

Darwin Nunez an option for Barcelona?

Darwin Nunez has had a horrid time in Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)

According to Mundo Deportivo, Darwin Nunez has now emerged as a potential option for Barcelona in their hunt for a number nine.

The report suggests Nunez’s name came into the fray during the talks with Al Hilal over Joao Cancelo. It has not been specified whether Barça wanted to talk about Nunez or if the former Liverpool player was offered to them.

It is clear that Barcelona are keeping track of Nunez’s awkward situation in Saudi Arabia.

A difficult season in Saudi Arabia

After arriving from Liverpool for €53 million, he made a promising start before the signing of Karim Benzema in February triggered a foreign player registration crisis.

Is Nunez a viable alternative for Alvarez? (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

With the Saudi league limiting squads to ten foreign players, Nunez was among those sacrificed, losing his league registration for the second half of the season.

Reports suggest his contract with Al Hilal has since been terminated by mutual consent, potentially making him available as a free agent.

That prospect is what makes the situation interesting for Barcelona, even if the financial implications of his wages would still need to be carefully considered alongside the club’s other planned signings.

With Alvarez remaining the priority, Nunez represents a very different profile but it is one that could be useful for the Catalans, especially if they go for a low-cost alternative.