Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez – since his big-money move from Benfica to Anfield – has been heavily lambasted due to missing a host of chances in front of goal, and The Times reporter Paul Joyce once suggested that the club’s recruitment team preferred to sign an alternative to the Uruguayan.
That said, the report suggested that Jurgen Klopp, who experienced plenty of success in his 489-game stewardship of the Premier League juggernauts and is now working as Red Bull’s Global Sports Director, was adamant on securing the signature of the once-promising centre forward for £85 million.
Although Nunez has no shortage of strikes to his name – as evidenced by his haul of 39 in 131 appearances for the Reds – there has always been the argument to suggest that he should have had more goals on his CV by virtue of the number of chances created for him.
Compare his attacking return to those of his Manchester City counterpart Erling Haaland or his teammate Mohamed Salah, both of whom are considered to be two of the greatest players in world football, and it’s not unfair to say that he’s underperforming what he’s perfectly capable of.
Liverpool’s Recruitment Team Wanted Alternative to Nunez
Thus far, it’s been a hodgepodge stint for the 25-year-old, who looked to possess all the talent to become one of world football’s deadliest line-leaders, since he took the leap from Portugal to England to turn out for one of the Premier League‘s most successful clubs, Liverpool.
Most notably, as alluded to, it’s his composure – or evident lack thereof – when handed gilt-edged opportunies to score that is beginning to test the patience of the Anfield faithful, who have time and time again shown full support of the misfiring talisman.
But, according to The Times correspondent Joyce, Christopher Nkunku was also in the offing pre-Nunez arrival. Then on the books of RB Leipzig, the Frenchman was keenly admired by Reds higher-ups, but the the signing of Nunez was led by Klopp. He wrote:
“Nunez was very much a Klopp signing (Liverpool’s recruitment thinktank preferred Christopher Nkunku, then of RB Leipzig, who has spent this season injured at Chelsea) and the manager spoke about how it is his responsibility to provide the player with the confidence to perform.
Nkunku, who is one of the highest-paid strikers in England’s top flight, hasn’t enjoyed the best of times since his high-profile move to west London after spending the majority of his inaugural season in England in line for the treatment table.
Under Enzo Maresca’s stewardship, he’s yet to find his groove in Chelsea’s expensively-assembled roster and has been limited to 1,417 minutes of action in 2024/25. In that time frame, the Paris Saint-Germain academy graduate has notched plenty of goal involvements.
Albeit shining predominantly in the Europa Conference League, it would have been interesting to see how he would have performed under Klopp instead of Nunez. The Uruguayan striker cost an initial £64mwhen he signed on the dotted line at Anfield, but he’s shown signs of inconsistency since then.
Missing chances has become a familiar theme for the former Benfica attacker – and should he not experience an upturn in performances between now and the end of the campaign, there is every chance that he could be on Slot’s chopping block in the summer.
Does Nunez Have a Future under Slot?
Of course, it still remains rather unclear whether fans of an Anfield persuasion have seen the best of Nunez. His debut season was treated as a bedding-in period, as he was in and out of the team while often being pushed out to the left wing in an attempt to get the best out of him.
The Reds invested a hefty amount of money to prise Nunez away from Benfica, so it’s certainly in their best interests to try and make it work out. With Arne Slot now at the helm after Klopp confirmed his much-maligned departure, it will be interesting to see whether they can get more out of Nunez moving forwards.
But will he get that chance to prove his talent? Slot, formerly of Feyenoord, has been reluctant to make use of the chaotic £140,000-per-week earner and has leaned on the experience of Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz – a winger by trade – at the top of the tree.
Salah‘s contract conundrum also plays a part. Should the Egyptian King leave in the summer, when his current terms come to an end, Slot will be in need of some urgent firepower and Nunez has not shown enough to be granted the responsibility
