Liverpool are reportedly on the verge of offloading Darwin Núñez to Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal in a move that could pave the way for a record-breaking bid for Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak.
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Al Hilal are prepared to pay an initial €53 million for Núñez, who joined Liverpool from Benfica in 2022 for a fee of €75 million. While the Uruguayan striker has netted 40 goals in 143 appearances, he has struggled to consistently meet expectations and has gradually fallen out of favour under both former manager Jürgen Klopp and current head coach Arne Slot.
Núñez's departure comes amid a major squad reshuffle at Anfield. The club has invested heavily this summer, spending over €300 million on reinforcements including German playmaker Florian Wirtz, French forward Hugo Ekitike, and full-backs Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong. With Núñez’s role already diminished and competition increasing, his exit appears mutually beneficial.
The sale would also contribute significantly to Liverpool’s ongoing efforts to balance their books, with outgoing transfers expected to generate close to €200 million. That figure includes the high-profile departures of Luis Díaz, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Caoimhín Kelleher, Jarell Quansah, and Tyler Morton. Additionally, Harvey Elliott is drawing strong interest from RB Leipzig, with Liverpool valuing the England international at a minimum of €45 million.
Crucially, the funds generated could allow Liverpool to reignite their pursuit of Newcastle’s Alexander Isak. The Swedish international, who has emerged as one of the Premier League’s most clinical forwards, is reportedly valued at up to £150 million by the Tyneside club — a figure that would shatter the British transfer record if met.
Should the move to Al Hilal go through, Núñez will join a growing list of high-profile European talents plying their trade in Saudi Arabia. The Riyadh-based club, coached by former Inter Milan manager Simone Inzaghi, features stars such as João Cancelo, Rúben Neves, Kalidou Koulibaly, and Aleksandar Mitrović. Al Hilal recently made headlines after eliminating Manchester City to reach the quarterfinals of the Club World Cup, further underscoring their growing stature on the global stage.
Liverpool's summer window strategy appears clear: streamline the squad, reinvest in high-impact talent, and pursue elite-level upgrades — with Alexander Isak potentially the centrepiece of their next chapter.
