Nunez becomes 5th Liverpool star to drop exit hint – but 1 insists he's staying

Darwin Nunez is unhappy with his limited role at Liverpool under Arne Slot and could join a group of his team-mates in moving elsewhere in the summer transfer window

Darwin Nunez has joined four of his team-mates in hinting that he could be about to leave Liverpool. The summer transfer window is about to open for business and Liverpool will be among the busiest Premier League clubs, with Arne Slot plotting a number of changes to his squad.

Liverpool are in negotiations to sign Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz, have agreed a deal with the same German club for Jeremie Frimpong and are also interested in signing Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth. The Reds are keen to get their business done early so Slot can prepare for the 2025/26 season, when they will attempt to defend their Premier League title.

And while supporters are focused on those who could be arriving, Liverpool know the importance of selling players too. Nunez is one of the players they are considering moving on, having attracted interest from Atletico Madrid.

The Uruguay international started just eight Premier League games for Liverpool this season and is frustrated by his role under Slot. He has fuelled rumours that he could be on his way out of the club by posting photos of himself on social media celebrating the title win on the parade with the caption “unforgettable. Thank you, Liverpool” with a heart emoji.

Nunez is Liverpool’s record signing, having joined from Benfica in June 2022 for £85m, made up of £64m plus add-ons. But he has never lived up to his billing as a goalscorer and Slot reportedly wants to sell him in order to fund a move for Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike.

He could leave alongside a group of Liverpool players which is led by Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is off to Real Madrid on a free transfer after running his contract down. Frimpong is set to replace him at right-back for next season – and Liverpool already have a replacement for another player who could be leaving.

Caoimhin Kelleher wants to become a No.1 goalkeeper elsewhere and could get his wish at Brentford, with Leverkusen chasing their current keeper Mark Flekken. The Bees are eyeing a £20m deal for the Ireland stopper, who will leave before Giorgi Mamardashvili arrives from Valencia to challenge Alisson.

HAVE YOUR SAY! What do you make of Liverpool's plans this summer? Which position do they need to strengthen? Comment below.

Andy Robertson is also facing an uncertain future at Liverpool, with Kerkez being considered in a £40m deal from Bournemouth as a new left-back. "Obviously, the club are going to have a busy summer, so we need to see where everyone stands," Robertson said at the end of the season. "But it's been a special time here, I loved my time here.”

Harvey Elliott is another likely to leave Anfield in pursuit of more regular game time elsewhere. The midfielder struggled to earn Slot’s trust this season and has been linked with Wolves, among other clubs. He wrote on social media: "This club. These fans. This city, forever in my heart. Thank you for another incredible experience."

Not every Liverpool fringe player wants out, though, with Wataru Endo keen to stay put despite playing a bit-part role under Slot. “My friends contact me, even my family is like, ‘so what are you going to do?’” he told his former team-mate Tomoaki Makino in an interview for Abema Times.

“And yeah, sometimes other players ask too: ‘Are you going to be here next year?’ Especially after the middle of the season. But I just say, ‘as far as I’m concerned, I’m staying.’”