The Liverpool striker could be in line for a big money move to the Saudi Pro League after another rejection of Al-Hilal by Victor Osimhen
So far this summer, most of the focus in the land of Liverpool transfer rumours has been on potential signings, with right back Jeremie Frimpong already signed and deals for superstar forward Florian Wirtz and left back Milos Kerkez in the works.
There will be significant outgoings, too. Already, Caoimhin Kelleher has joined Brentford, but the biggest departure of the summer is expected to be striker Darwin Nuñez, who fell down the pecking order under manager Arne Slot and whose age, wage, and potential high transfer value all add up to a sale if a suitable buyer can be found.
The latest chatter has Al-Hilal as a rapidly developing story on the likely suitor front after the Saudi Pro League club were rejected for a fifth time by 26-year-old Napoli striker Victor Osimhen.
Al-Hilal and Napoli have agreed to the player’s transfer, but the player so far doesn’t seem interested, repeatedly signalling that his preference would be to remain in Europe and make the switch to a top club this summer rather than taking semi-retirement and a Saudi payday.
For their part, Al-Hilal are desperate for a striker signing before the Club World Cup kicks off next week. Queue, then, the Nuñez rumours. The Liverpool striker has been linked with Al-Hilal and other Saudi clubs previously, but past rounds of Nuñez-related rumour mongering have suggested he would also prefer staying in Europe and joining Atletico Madrid.
With Sporting’s Viktor Gyokeres also rumoured to have turned down Al-Hilal, it will be interesting to see if anything happens on the Nuñez front now—though given the Club World Cup-related crunch, if it does it will have to happen sooner than later.