Napoli have officially abandoned their pursuit of Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez after nearly 70 days of intense transfer negotiations. The Serie A champions had prioritized Nunez as their top target up front this summer and were prepared to offer over €50 million to Liverpool, surpassing an initial €42 million bid. Discussions about personal terms with Nunez, including a salary exceeding €5 million plus bonuses, had no issues. However, the deal ultimately collapsed just 48 hours before the expected conclusion.

Following the breakdown, Napoli shifted their focus to alternative options, notably having considered Udinese's Lorenzo Lucca as their backup target since May. Additionally, Napoli has resumed talks regarding Torino midfielder Milinkovic-Savic and remains interested in other players like Ndoye, suggesting a reallocation strategy for the funds initially earmarked for Nunez. The collapse of the deal means Nunez now faces new decisions about his future, with interest reported from Saudi Pro League clubs such as Al-Hilal, who have already made approaches.

This development comes amid Napoli’s ongoing attempts to finalize a transfer involving striker Victor Osimhen to Galatasaray, a move expected to free up space and funds for their attacking reinforcements. Nunez, who found limited playing time at Liverpool, might have seen a fresh start under Antonio Conte at Napoli, who recently led the club to its fifth Serie A title and has a reputation for revitalizing players. However, with the Napoli transfer off, Nunez’s possible destinations now include various offers beyond Italy.