Liverpool have loved a terrific summer season switch window that has put them in a implausible place to defend their Premier League title within the 2025/26 marketing campaign.
The headline of the summer season thus far has, after all, been the arrival of Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen for a British document switch payment of £116.5m.
Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong, and Hugo Ekitike have additionally arrived as marquee additions to bolster Arne Slot‘s choices throughout the pitch forward of subsequent season.
Nonetheless, Liverpool have additionally misplaced Luis Diaz. The Colombia worldwide lately accomplished a everlasting switch to German giants Bayern Munich.
The previous Porto man is probably not the one high-profile exit from Anfield earlier than the tip of the window, although, as Darwin Nunez could also be on his means out of the membership.
Al Hilal are reportedly closing in on a deal to signal the Uruguay worldwide, as they’re in talks over private phrases with the Reds centre-forward.
Why it’s the proper time for Liverpool to money in on Nunez
David Ornstein claims that the Saudi Professional League membership have agreed an preliminary payment of £46m, with add-ons on prime, with Liverpool for the striker, who has proven a willingness to just accept the transfer.
Though it stays to be seen how a lot cash may very well be recouped from the full switch together with the add-ons, it looks like the best time for the Reds to money in on the previous Benfica star.
Liverpool reportedly paid a club-record payment of £85m to signal the attacker in the summertime of 2022, and it’s more and more troublesome to justify it as cash nicely spent by the membership, based mostly on his performances on the pitch.
Sadly, a theme all through Nunez’s time at Anfield has been unreliable ending. He has not made sufficient of the probabilities that the workforce have created for him during the last three years.
Darwin Nunez (all comps) |
22/23 |
23/24 |
24/25 |
---|---|---|---|
Appearances |
42 |
54 |
47 |
xG |
17.16 |
22.64 |
8.53 |
Targets |
15 |
18 |
7 |
Huge probabilities missed |
28 |
38 |
17 |
Assists |
4 |
13 |
5 |
As you’ll be able to see within the desk above, the £85m signing has underperformed his xG in all three of his seasons with the membership, lacking a staggering 83 ‘large probabilities’ in that point.
For this reason it might be the best time for Liverpool to maneuver on from Nunez amid curiosity from Al Hilal, as he has not executed sufficient to counsel that he could be a dependable possibility for Slot.
Euro membership in talks to signal Liverpool midfielder
In the meantime, the Reds may very well be dealt a much bigger blow as Jurgen Klopp is seeking to poach one in every of their gamers for one in every of his Crimson Bull golf equipment this summer season.
Based on The Athletic’s David Ornstein, RB Leipzig are in talks with Liverpool over a possible deal to signal England U21 worldwide Harvey Elliott.
The reporter states that the German facet have already made contact with the Premier League champions and are actually talking to them a few transfer for the left-footed ace.
Ornstein provides that Leipzig need to convey him in as a possible substitute for Dutch star Xavi Simons, who could also be off to Chelsea this summer season.
The Athletic’s article reveals that Liverpool are keen to promote Elliott for £40m if a buy-back clause is included as a part of the deal, or for £50m with out one.
Given Klopp’s job with Crimson Bull and his connections at Anfield, the German boss might have an element to play on this doable switch of his former midfielder, as Leipzig look to poach him this summer season.
Why dropping Harvey Elliott could be a blow for Liverpool
In contrast to Nunez, Elliott wouldn’t be leaving the membership as a result of he has not been adequate on the pitch for Liverpool. As an alternative, it could be looking for extra sport time.
The English starlet solely performed 28 instances in all competitions through the 2024/25 marketing campaign, and solely began two matches within the Premier League for Slot. He was a helpful participant when referred to as upon, although, with a return of 5 objectives and three assists from a central midfield place.
Elliott continues to be a younger participant who’s creating and enhancing on a regular basis, although, on the age of twenty-two. Because of this Liverpool haven’t seen the very best of him but, which is why cashing in on him now could be an enormous blow.
It might imply that Leipzig would probably profit from his potential by providing him the possibility to play recurrently in Germany, reasonably than the Reds attending to see him blossom by rising his sport time at Anfield.
The left-footed magician’s performances for England’s U21s on the European Championship this summer season counsel that he’s now primed to have a breakthrough season as a key participant for whoever he’s taking part in for subsequent season.
2025 U21 Euros |
Harvey Elliott |
---|---|
Appearances |
6 |
Sofascore ranking |
7.53 |
Targets |
5 |
Minutes per aim |
95 |
Key passes per sport |
1.7 |
Assists |
0 |
As you’ll be able to see within the desk above, Elliott was prolific for his nation from a midfield place all through the match, averaging a aim each 95 minutes.
The English gem, who was described as “explosive” by Slot, has the potential to emerge as an excellent attack-minded midfield star, who can each rating and create objectives, as evidenced by his 11-assist haul within the 2023/24 season for Liverpool.
For this reason dropping Elliott this summer season could be a fair larger blow than dropping Nunez to Al Hilal, as a result of he’s a formidable younger expertise with the potential to develop right into a prime participant for the membership, whereas the previous Benfica man has already had loads of probabilities to impress and did not take them.
Due to this fact, Liverpool ought to rethink cashing in on Elliott earlier than the tip of the summer season switch window, as he has the standard to be an awesome possibility for Slot to name upon within the 2025/26 marketing campaign when wanted.