6 days ago
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Jurgen Klopp warned Liverpool was getting a "work in progress" when it agreed an £85 million ($114M) deal to sign Darwin Nunez. Who, by the way, will receive a staggering salary increase.
Fast forward three years and the 26-year-old Uruguayan is poised to end his confusing spell on Merseyside after Liverpool agreed a £46.3 million ($62.2M) sale with Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal. Nunez arrived at Anfield to much fanfare in the same summer that Manchester City forked out £51M ($68.5M) for Erling Haaland.
But while Haaland has been an untold success, Nunez has largely failed to deliver and his time at Liverpool will be remembered more for his glaring misses than his goalscoring prowess. Though Liverpool fans can't say that former boss Klopp, who brought Nunez to the club from Benfica, didn't warn them...
Speaking after Liverpool confirmed Nunez's signing, Klopp said: "It's important we all recognise we are getting a 'work in progress' with Darwin - he recognises that himself. I love how much focus and humility he has.
"We have wonderful attacking options already and he becomes part of that now. So there is no pressure on him at all. He signs for a very long time and we intend to nurture his talent and see it grow."
Liverpool paid an initial £64M ($86M) to sign Nunez with the rest of the transfer package made up of potential add-ons - some of which have never been met. His first few games in a red shirt provided the perfect insight into the Jekyll and Hyde character Liverpool were getting.
After scoring twice in a late cameo off the bench to win the Community Shield 3-1 against Haaland's City - sparking a short-lived rivalry between the strikers - Nunez followed that up with a goal against Fulham on his Premier League debut before a red card for a headbutt on Crystal Palace's Joachim Anderson on his Anfield bow.
Late match-winning braces at Newcastle and Brentford plus a screamer against Bournemouth in the Carabao Cup were arguably the highlight for a player capable of the brilliant and the bizarre, which ultimately led him to become somewhat of a cult hero among the club's fans.
After Klopp's departure, Nunez struggled to force his way into Arne Slot's plans, making just 17 starts in 47 appearances last season. In all he scored 40 goals in 143 appearances - hardly a terrible return, but not what Liverpool were expecting when they'd shelled out such a mammoth fee, though he does still leave a Premier League title winner.
Nunez's departure could help Liverpool seal a deal for Newcastle striker Alexander Isak. The Swedish international has been forced to train alone as he pushes for a move to Anfield, with Liverpool expected to return with an improved bid after Newcastle rejected their offer of $140M.
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