Liverpool and Al-Hilal have reportedly reached a verbal agreement on the sale of striker Darwin Nunez.
Al-Hilal are believed to have offered the Premier League champions £46million (€53m) plus significant add-ons for Nunez’s services, and the move is getting closer, as revealed by The Athletic.
The transfer hinges on the Uruguayan striker, who arrived at Anfield for a mammoth £85m three summers ago, agreeing personal terms with the Saudi Pro League side. If he does, then the deal is expected to come to fruition.
When approached by Mail Sport, Liverpool refused to comment on the situation.
Speculation surrounding the striker has swirled for much of this year, with Al-Nassr seeing a bid rejected in January. Napoli also expressed an interest, but they refused to meet Liverpool’s valuation.
AC Milan are another side believed to have shared their desire to sign Nunez, 26, but it’s Al-Hilal who are at the front of the queue, and a deal between the Saudis and Liverpool is progressing.
Darwin Nunez is closing in on a move to Al-Hilal as a £46m fee has been ‘agreed’ with Liverpool
The Urugayan striker hasn’t yet agreed personal terms with the Saudi outfit as of now
The signing of Hugo Ekitke (left) and chase of Alexander Isak (right) signal that Nunez’s days at Anfield are numbered
It has become increasingly evident that the striker’s future lies away from Merseyside after the £79m signing of Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt, and the ongoing transfer saga with Newcastle’s Alexander Isak, in which the Reds have seen a £110m offer rejected.
The Magpies hierarchy were thought to be disappointed by the offer and quickly rejected, which slowed down Liverpool’s chase of the Swede. Although they are expected to submit a second proposal soon, depending on developments in the north east.
Isak has seemingly made it clear to Newcastle that he wants to leave the club, having trained at the base of his former side Real Sociedad, rather than go on his side’s pre-season tour of Asia. He has since returned to the north east and is said to be receiving treatment for a thigh injury.
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Meanwhile, Newcastle’s hunt for a potential Isak replacement recently took a huge hit on Tuesday as Benjamin Sesko, whom they launched a club record £70m bid to sign, is reported to prefer a move to Manchester United.
The Red Devils are set to have bid less than the Geordies, who struck a deal with RB Leipzig, but Old Trafford is Sesko’s preferred destination.
It leaves Isak’s proposed move to Liverpool hanging in the balance, with Newcastle not willing to sell unless they secure a striker through the door.
The outcome of the Swedish striker’s transfer saga is not believed to affect whether Nunez leaves Liverpool, with many believing the Uruguayan has now played his last game for the club.
Arne Slot has already had a staggering summer in the transfer market, having secured the potential British record £116m signing of Florian Wirtz, with full-backs Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez making the move to Anfield.