Arne Slot gets Liverpool transfer boost as Darwin Nunez 'says yes' to shock move

Liverpool are already in the thick of their planning for next season and the future of striker Darwin Nunez looks very uncertain with the former Benfica man having failed to match expectations

Liverpool star Darwin Nunez looks set to quit the club this summer after agreeing to join Atletico Madrid. The Uruguayan striker has failed to match lofty expectations on Merseyside following his £85m move from Portuguese giants Benfica nearly three years ago.

He netted 33 goals across his first two campaigns but has just seven strikes this term. Nunez has been limited to 17 starts this season under new boss Arne Slot but it appears that he already has an escape route planned.

As per Cadena SER, Spanish giants Atletico Madrid have already held talks with the 25-year-old, who has ‘made it clear’ he wants to pursue a switch to La Liga. It is further suggested that everything has been agreed from the striker’s perspective, with a deal still to be discussed with Liverpool.

Nunez has just over three years remaining on his contract at Anfield. Atletico Madrid are not the only side interested in the forward, with Napoli also among those keeping a close eye on him.

It was previously reported that Nunez’s limited minutes this season was to do with a clause in the deal that would see Liverpool pay Benfica a further add-on. When that was put to Liverpool boss Slot, he rejected that out of hand.

He said: “Do you always believe what journalists say? Not always? Me neither. Sometimes you should, but sometimes it’s better not to believe everything that is written about players.

“This is completely new to me and I’ve said many times that I’m working at a club here where it’s really nice to work. So mainly sporting directors are judged by the players they bring in, for me it’s very important to have a great working environment and I have that with Richard (Hughes).

“The last, last, last, last, last thing he would do, as I expect working with him for 10 months, is tell me: ‘If you play him it would cost us this much’.

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“That, he would never, never, never do. I don’t even know if it’s true, yes or no, because we never talk about that. ‘He never interferes with a lineup. It might be true, but if a journalist says it we have to..... (take it with a pinch of salt).”

Nunez will be aiming to earn another outing this weekend as Liverpool round off their season against Crystal Palace. They will also lift the Premier League trophy after that game.