Mystery Surrounds Liverpool's £110M Star: Arne Slot Faces Uphill Battle

The transition from Jurgen Klopp to Arne Slot at Liverpool has been smoother than anyone could have hoped for. I mean, the team’s not just competing, they’re excelling, on the brink of clinching that coveted second Premier League title. But, let’s dive into the undercurrents shaping up as they plan for the future. The Reds are looking ahead to the 2025-26 season with strategies in mind, where one of their priciest acquisitions is seemingly waving goodbye—falling short of the towering expectations set for him.

Speaking of challenges, Liverpool has had a pretty stellar season in front of goal, leading to them being one of Europe’s most potent scoring teams with a hefty 78 goals in 33 outings. The snag’s been up in the striker position, however, where Darwin Nuñez—hey, remember him?—has been less than impressive. Slot, the new gaffer, seems to have given up on the Uruguayan’s goal-scoring flair.

And just like that, with transfer insider Fabrizio Romano’s words, we’ve got ourselves a scenario where Nuñez might be packing his bags at the end of next season. This guy was supposed to be the next big thing, Liverpool shelling out around a cool $110 million on him from Benfica. Yet, here we are, and the dream hasn’t materialized.

Klopp’s tenure, Nuñez struggled to find consistency, often ending up as a meme for missed opportunities, which, if I’m honest, often made me chuckle, though not for the club’s sake. Slot’s reign hasn’t changed much on that front. Nuñez’s missed penalty in the Champions League loss to PSG put even more scrutiny on him—ouch, talk about pressure.

Despite his time at Anfield—40 goals and 26 assists from 138 appearances—Núñez is finding himself on the bench more than anyone anticipated. It’s looking like his

With Jurgen Klopp stepping down at the start of the season, Liverpool quickly adapted to new head coach Arne Slot and are now on the verge of capturing their second Premier League title in club history. However, as they plan for the 2025–26 campaign, one of their most expensive signings appears to be on his way out after failing to live up to expectations.

Liverpool have been one of the highest-scoring teams in Europe this season, racking up 78 goals in 33 Premier League matches. Still, one area of concern has been their front line—specifically, the underwhelming performances of striker Darwin Nuñez, who has reportedly fallen out of favor with Slot.

According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Nuñez is expected to leave Liverpool at the end of the 2024–25 season. The Reds signed the Uruguayan forward from Benfica in 2022 for €75 million plus €25 million in add-ons (approximately $110 million), hoping he would become their next star striker. However, he has yet to meet those lofty expectations.

Under Klopp, Nuñez was often criticized for his inconsistency and missed chances—frequent targets of online ridicule. Things haven’t improved under Slot, who has frequently opted for wingers like Luis Díaz or Cody Gakpo in the No. 9 role. Nuñez’s missed penalty in the shootout loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League added to the scrutiny.

Through nearly three seasons at Anfield, Nuñez has made 138 appearances, scoring 40 goals and contributing 26 assists. But with diminished playing time and limited impact, his time on Merseyside appears to be nearing its end.

What’s next for Darwin Nuñez?

Despite his struggles in England, Nuñez is still regarded as a top talent by many clubs. At 25, he’s likely to draw significant interest in the summer transfer window, as he did on January.

Romano previously reported that Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr—home to Cristiano Ronaldo—pushed to sign Nuñez earlier this year. However, Liverpool were reluctant to break up the squad midseason while still competing for silverware. That stance may change in the coming months, with renewed interest from Saudi Arabia expected.

In Europe, Atletico Madrid have emerged as a possible landing spot. According to Spanish outlet Diario AS, manager Diego Simeone is intrigued by Nuñez’s potential and physicality up front. However, with Transfermarkt valuing the forward at €50 million, Liverpool are likely to demand a significant fee to part ways with their high-profile signing.