Fresh Darwin Núñez transfer claim emerges after $81m Liverpool ace linked with Barcelona

Liverpool forward Darwin Núñez is ‘unlikely’ to join Barcelona this summer. That is despite transfer links emerged regarding a possible La Liga move this summer.

Darwin Núñez is unlikely to leave Liverpool for Barcelona during the summer transfer window. The Uruguayan forward had previously been linked with a move to the Catalan club in recent weeks.

Xavi Hernandez, who recently performed a dramatic U-turn on his decision to leave as head coach at the end of the season, is now searching for Robert Lewandowski’s successor at Barcelona. The 35-year-old is reaching the twilight of his career and remains one of the top earners within the squad, as the team looks to move him on this summer.

The legendary Polish forward arrived at the club in the same transfer window which saw Núñez complete an initial $81m (£64m/€75m) move to Anfield from Benfica. The 24-year-old has shown flashes of what he is capable of in front of goal but has also regularly left fans frustrated with the opportunities he misses.

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And reports had emerged in the Spanish outlet SPORT linking Núñez with a move to Barcelona, as the La Liga giant eyed him as a perfect replacement for Lewandowski in the number nine position. However, these claims have since been played down by a different Spanish media outlet.

According to Mundo Deportivo, a move to Spain for the Liverpool star is ‘unlikely’ this summer and a more ‘realistic’ deal involving the Premier League would see former Leeds United winger Raphinha returning to England. Tottenham Hotspur has a long-standing interest in the Brazilian and could look to entice Barcelona into a sale this summer.

The report states that Barcelona would want around $59m (£47m/€55m) for Raphinha to help ease the financial difficulties the club is currently experiencing. That is another factor that would once again hinder a possible deal for Núñez.

Núñez has scored 20 goals and added a further 11 assists across his 63 appearances in the top flight of English football, which is a decent return. However, after failing to make an impact off the bench against Spurs last weekend — which marked his eighth outing without a goal — the pressure is now building on the Liverpool man. He could, though, still play a major role in Arne Slot’s plans at Anfield, once he takes over from Jürgen Klopp this summer.

Liverpool.com says: Naturally, Núñez will always be compared to Erling Haaland after they arrived in the same transfer window. He isn’t a lethal finisher like the Norwegian — but does have his benefits. He’s versatile and can play multiple positions but still needs to develop. He’s far from his prime at 24 and will only get better in the future.