Viktor Gyökeres’ Rejection Reignites Al-Hilal Chase for Darwin Núñez

Liverpool’s Transfer Deadline Drama: Nunez Future in the Balance

The Uruguayan striker’s future at Anfield hangs in the balance as Saudi giants Al-Hilal intensify their efforts to secure a marquee signing before Tuesday’s transfer window closure.

There’s a growing sense of urgency surrounding Núñez, who remains firmly in Al-Hilal’s crosshairs. The Saudi side is said to be desperate, especially after recent rejections from Bruno Fernandes and Victor Osimhen—both high-profile targets that slipped through their grasp.

Núñez had bought into new head coach Arne Slot’s vision for the upcoming 2024/25 campaign. Yet, his output failed to impress—just seven goals across all competitions, a stark contrast to the 18 goals under Jürgen Klopp last season and *15 in his debut year in England. Despite the dip in form, Liverpool stood firm back in January, turning down Saudi approaches to avoid disrupting their Premier League title push.

His last start came on March 8 against Southampton, where he also bagged his most recent goal. Since then, he’s struggled to make a tangible impact in the title race—raising fresh questions over his long-term role at Liverpool.

According to talkSPORT, Liverpool’s No. 9 is now one of just two names being urgently pursued by Al-Hilal as they race against time to strengthen ahead of the Club World Cup.

The Saudi club’s ambitious hunt has already seen snubs from Manchester United’s Fernandes and Napoli’s Osimhen—who, it’s worth noting, scored an eye-watering 37 goals while on loan at Galatasaray this past season. Osimhen himself had once been linked with a move to Anfield.

Adding to Al-Hilal’s woes, A Bola reports that Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyökeres—another top-tier target—has also declined a move. The 27-year-old Swede, boasting a staggering 97 goals in 102 appearances over the past two seasons, is said to prefer a Premier League switch—keeping the door slightly ajar for Liverpool, who’ve been monitoring his situation.

That said, the clock is ticking.

With the Saudi deadline looming this Tuesday, Al-Hilal is scrambling to finalize deals in time for Club World Cup registration. This pressure could play right into Liverpool’s hands as they look to potentially cash in on Núñez—who arrived in 2022 for a hefty fee from Benfica.

Meanwhile, Liverpool’s hierarchy isn’t panicking. Their immediate focus is on long-term targets like Florian Wirtz and Milos Kerkez. Once the window officially reopens on Monday, June 16, it’s expected that the Reds will turn their attention toward reinforcing their frontline.

Until then, this is [Your Name], keeping you updated as the Núñez transfer saga develops in real-time. Stay tuned.