Liverpool decide next transfer after Darwin Nunez exit as Barcola truth emerges

Liverpool have been linked with a move for Paris Saint-Germain's Bradley Barcola as they prepare to sell Darwin Nunez to Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal in a deal which could surpass the £50million mark

Liverpool have agreed a deal to sell Darwin Nunez to Al-Hilal - and will now focus on landing a replacement. The Reds have Newcastle striker Alexander Isak as their top target but won’t panic buy an alternative if they fail to get their man.

They will only switch targets if they believe another one who fits their criteria can be bought in this window. Nunez, 26, is flying out to Germany on Thursday to complete his medical with the Saudi club, who are currently in Europe for pre-season preparations.

Al-Hilal will pay £46m up front with bonuses which will take the fee beyond £50m. Liverpool paid Benfica £65m up front rising to £85m in 2022. The Reds have already brought in Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt this summer in a deal worth up to £79m.

But they’ve now sold Nunez along with Luis Diaz while Diogo Jota tragically died in a car accident leaving them considering further enhancements in attack. That is why they are pursuing Isak.

They are only in the market for a starting forward and not a back-up. But they will only pay what they believe is a fair market value and chase someone they believe they can land before the window closes.

Liverpool have shown in the past that they won’t pivot to other targets if they don’t get their No.1 unless they believe they also meet their criteria. That is the feeling here and they don’t believe they need to land a striker but there is a want to.

An example of that would be not signing another centre-back when they had to delay a move for Virgil van Dijk in the summer of 2017 or last year when Martin Zubimendi turned them down to stay at Real Sociedad. PSG forward Bradley Barcola, 22, has been linked with the club in recent days as an Isak alternative with the thought given that Ekitike would play central.

But, while the forward is liked by Liverpool and a number of clubs, there is no planned move for him at this stage. PSG are unlikely to consider allowing him to leave, thus making him unattainable. While Liverpool also feel a left-sided attacker of Barcola's age would block the path of talented teenager Rio Ngumoha.

Do Liverpool need Bradley Barcola more than a striker? Have your say in the comments section.

Nunez departs the club having spent three years at Anfield and was a signing pushed for by Jurgen Klopp after the Uruguayan impressed in Champions League games against the Reds. But he failed to show enough clinical finishing to be a regular starter for the Reds. Nunez wanted to leave in January when there was interest from Saudi side Al-Nassr and others.

Liverpool stood firm and wanted him to stay as they chased Premier League and Champions League glory. Napoli failed with a bid earlier in the window as Nunez again asked to leave but now Al-Hilal have reached terms with Liverpool and the player will earn £400,000-a-week in Saudi.

Liverpool failed with a £110m bid for Isak last week and are waiting for encouragement before a second offer, which is likely to break the British transfer record. Newcastle are not entertaining bids until they find a replacement for Isak but look set to miss out on their latest target as RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko is negotiating terms with Manchester United.

Isak, 25, is now recovering from a thigh injury and training away from the Newcastle first-team squad after Eddie Howe was angered by the player’s actions when he went to train at former club Real Sociedad while the Magpies were in the Far East on tour.