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Darwin Nunez and his future at Liverpool appears increasingly uncertain as transfer speculation intensifies, compounding what has already been a challenging season for the Uruguayan striker.

His 2024/25 campaign has been defined by underwhelming returns.



In 27 Premier League appearances (8 starts), he has scored just 5 goals and provided 2 assists, underperforming his expected goals.

Liverpool’s reluctance to trigger a €5 million payment to Benfica – reportedly due after his 50th league start – has fueled theories about his exclusion, though the club denies financial motives.

Slot instead attributed Nunez’s absence to tactical decisions, stating, “The last thing [sporting director] Richard Hughes would do is tell me who to play based on a clause”.

Al-Hilal leads the pursuit, having offered a £558,000-a-week contract in January.

The Saudi Pro League’s special Club World Cup registration window (June 1–10) could expedite a deal, allowing Núñez to join before the tournament begins on June 14.

Closer to home, Napoli e and Atlético Madrid have shown interest, though neither is likely to match Saudi financial terms.

Liverpool, seeking to recoup part of their £85 million investment, will want to sell the striker to the highest bidder naturally.

But earlier this week, a surprising story from South America claimed that Argentina giants River Plate were keen on signing the 26-year-old.

Argentine outlet DR Sports reported that Nunez has been offered to River Plate ahead of the Club World Cup, which kicks off on June 15 in the United States.

The Argentine giants, who will be competing in the tournament, are keen to strengthen their attack and see the Liverpool man as a marquee addition to spearhead their campaign.

It sounded like a far-fetched story, and now the River Plate general secretary has come out to deny the claims.

Stefano Di Carlo spoke to TyC Sports to rubbish the links of Darwin Nunez as well as Angel Di Maria:

“All those names are false.

River made a strong transfer market in January,” he said.

“Of course, we will surgically seek out and strengthen certain positions; but that will happen when the transfer market opens?

Everything that was said is not real.”

From the off, the story was not exactly sound as River Plate would struggle to entice Nunez with the wages needed to bring him back to South America.”

European football also offers a higher level of competition for a player who still has much to prove.

Additionally, the tax-free financial incentives of the Saudi Pro League would likely present a more lucrative option for Nunez at this stage of his career.

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