Nottingham Forest are plotting a summer swoop for Liverpool flop Darwin Nunez, who could depart Anfield at the end of the season.
The Reds signed the Uruguay international from Benfica in 2022 for around £85m after he netted 48 goals in 85 games. However, things have not gone as per the plan for the striker after a subpar couple of seasons that saw him score 33 goals in 96 appearances in all competitions for Liverpool.
Darwin Nunez has had another poor season, managing just seven goals in 40 appearances. He is not being fancied by Liverpool boss Arne Slot, and now it looks extremely likely that the South American could be moved on this summer.
Nottingham Forest have reportedly shown an interest by tabling a €60 offer for Nunez. They want to wrap up the deal before the summer with the Tricky Trees wanting to fortify their attack force with a Premier League-proven goalscorer and believes the Liverpool man could be a key player in Nuno Espirito Santo’s booming project.
Nottingham Forest make the first move to sign Darwin Nunez
Nottingham Forest have enjoyed a phenomenal season and currently lie third in the Premier League. They also qualified for the FA Cup semi-finals on Saturday by beating Brighton and Hove Albion 4-3 on penalties.
Nuno Espirito Santo has transformed the club’s fortunes, saving from relegation last season to now masterminding them to third spot and a likely spot in the Champions League. Top-level continental action could be returning to City Ground next term, but there is still work to do for Nuno and his team.
Forest chiefs, meanwhile, have already started putting plans in place for the important summer transfer window. They are planning to bolster the strike force, which has been spearheaded brilliantly by Chris Wood. The New Zealand international has been in sensational form this season with 18 goals in the league, a tally bettered only by Mohamed Salah, Erling Haaland and Alexander Isak. His efforts have been key to lifting the Tricky Trees to third in the league.
Wood’s deputy has been Taiwo Awoniyi, who started up top against Brighton in the FA Cup but he has netted just one league goal all season. So, Nuno wants a proven Premier League commodity to challenge Wood next season and has set his sights on signing Nunez.
Nunez is not part of Arne Slot’s plans at Liverpool next season, with reliable journalist James Pearce claiming that he’d be ‘amazed’ if the 25-year-old remains at Anfield for the start of next season. It is clear that the Uruguayan has failed to live up to his hefty price tag and expectations of the Kop, squandering easy chances in front of goal, making wrong choices in the final third and lacking the technical ability to link up with his teammates.
Nonetheless, Nunez remains a good player who could do well with a change of scenery. Forest have made the first move to sign him. They are leading the race for the ex-Benfica star’s signature for now, showing their intent to close a deal as quickly as possible by tabling a €60 offer.
I am Rohan Sengupta from one of the busiest cities in India, Mumbai. A Journalism graduate with a keen interest in sports, football is something I simply cannot live without and writing, discussing and analyzing the game is what I do 24*7.