Fabrizio Romano confirms BLOCKBUSTER Saudi move for Liverpool attacker

Anfield Watch revealed in January that Liverpool had REJECTED Saudi interest in Darwin Nunez.

Liverpool transfer latest: €60m offered as Nunez replacement found

Al-Hilal came forward with a proposal for the Uruguayan striker, thought to be around £70 million, but the Reds said no. It was believed at the time that Liverpool might end up doing business for £75m but Al-Hilal didn’t come back with another bid.

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Later in the window however it began to emerge that Al-Hilal weren’t the only Saudi outfit keen on recruiting the 25-year-old.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr, who ended up with Jhon Duran, were very keen to do business with Liverpool for Nunez as told to GIVEMESPORT by Fabrizio Romano.

“In the second half of January, Al Nassr sent Liverpool two official proposals for Nunez as a big target to join the club for the number 9 position needed by head coach Stefano Pioli to play next to Cristiano Ronaldo,” the transfer guru said.

Liverpool turned down the initial approach but Al-Nassr returned with a package totalling €75m +. The Saudi outfit were even down the line with the player over personal terms.

Liverpool not willing to sell

“Sources close to the deal guarantee that Al Nassr were also in very advanced talks with Nunez,” the Italian said. “They were confident of getting the green light from the player before insisting on reaching an agreement with Liverpool.”

Liverpool were not against selling the former Benfica star but Romano claims that the money on offer wasn’t the issue. It was the fact that Liverpool didn’t have enough time to get a replacement.

Although the Reds were linked with Omar Marmoush and Stefanos Tzimas in January, each of those strikers ended up elsewhere. Next summer, the club might well do business for Charles De Ketelaere, Joao Pedro or Hugo Ekitike, but there was simply no opportunity to get a deal done last winter.

Darwin, Jota, Diaz to leave

“More than three direct rounds of talks took place,” Romano said, “[but] Liverpool didn’t have time to find a proper replacement for Nunez.

"Selling Darwin in January and the risk of bringing in a striker you don’t really trust and probably overpaying in the final days of the window wasn't something that the management wanted to approve.

“The package worth €85m is exactly the same that Al Nassr wanted to invest for the Darwin deal. But Liverpool decided to say no.”

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Darwin is among the Liverpool strikers being eyed for the exit by club officials as Arne Slot considers a shakeup of his attacking options. Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz could also find themselves on the way out.

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