In 2022, Liverpool made headlines when they secured the signing of Darwin Nunez from Benfica for a reported fee of €75 million (£64 million), with potential add-ons increasing the total to £85 million.
The Uruguayan striker was viewed as a promising talent, expected to fill the shoes of Roberto Firmino as Liverpool’s next great centre-forward under Jurgen Klopp.
However, Nunez’s arrival at Anfield coincided with Manchester City’s acquisition of Erling Haaland, leading to inevitable comparisons between the two strikers.
While Haaland’s explosive debut at City was undeniable, Ian Graham, Liverpool’s former director of research, revealed why Nunez was the preferred option for the Reds.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Graham explained that Haaland was simply out of Liverpool’s financial reach, citing not just the transfer fee but the overall cost of bringing the Norwegian star to Merseyside. Nunez, on the other hand, offered the qualities of a traditional centre-forward, which made him a suitable fit for Klopp’s system, especially with Firmino ageing.
Graham also noted that Nunez’s arrival didn’t diminish Mohamed Salah’s role in the team, a concern when signing a forward of his calibre.
Despite his potential, Nunez has faced challenges adapting to the Premier League, and his performances have been overshadowed by the immense success Haaland has enjoyed at Manchester City.
“Darwin looked like one of the best young strikers in Europe,” Graham told Sky. “Haaland was the obvious one, but he was out of Liverpool’s financial range. The transfer fee is not that big a component of the total spend on Haaland. So, Haaland was out of the equation.
“Darwin was a centre-forward who did centre-forward things. So the question was, [Roberto] Firmino’s getting older and we are going to have to replace him eventually. Would the coach be comfortable with the slight change of style that Darwin is going to bring?
“I can only see it from the outside now, so I don’t have any special insight into it, but the interesting thing is that with the amount of shots Darwin takes, you would expect him to be taking some from Mo [Salah], but he doesn’t seem to be taking that many shots from Mo.”
Darwin Nunez Yet to Start for Arne Slot Amid Scrutiny Over His Future
Since the appointment of new Liverpool manager Arne Slot, Nunez’s place in the team has come under scrutiny.
Despite his talent and impressive goal-scoring record, Nunez has struggled to earn regular playing time. In the first three matches of the current Premier League season, Slot has only handed Nunez 32 minutes of game time, raising questions about his future at the club.
For a player signed for such a hefty fee, Nunez’s limited minutes are concerning.
The Uruguayan forward has undeniable potential and has shown flashes of brilliance during his 98 appearances for Liverpool, netting 33 goals.
However, with rumours swirling and competition for places heating up, Nunez must now prove his worth to Slot and the Liverpool faithful. He is undoubtedly a gifted striker, but he needs to silence the growing doubts about his future and put himself firmly in Slot’s plans for the rest of the season.
Nunez’s talent is evident, but to secure his long-term role at Liverpool, he must step up and demonstrate that he can deliver consistent performances. This season may be crucial for him, and a strong showing in the coming weeks could cement his place as a key figure in Slot’s Liverpool setup.
