Arne Slot faces challenge to repair relationship with Darwin Nunez after Liverpool rejects Al Nassr offer

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has a difficult task ahead in mending his relationship with striker Darwin Nunez. This comes after the club turned down a substantial transfer offer for Nunez from Saudi Arabian team Al Nassr.

Al Nassr had expressed interest in signing Nunez before finalizing a £64 million deal for Aston Villa’s Jhon Duran. However, Liverpool made it clear that Nunez was not for sale at any price.

The Uruguayan forward has spent much of the season on the bench and would have welcomed the opportunity to discuss a potential move with Al Nassr. Earlier reports suggested Liverpool had rejected an initial £70 million bid from a Saudi club.

Nunez, who Liverpool acquired from Benfica for £85 million in 2022, was left out of the squad for Liverpool’s Champions League loss to PSV on Wednesday. Slot cited a minor illness as the reason for his absence.

The 25-year-old was able to train on Thursday and has traveled with the team to Bournemouth for Saturday’s Premier League match. However, he is unlikely to be in the starting lineup.

Nunez’s future at Anfield will be reassessed in the summer. This season, he has scored 6 goals and provided 4 assists in 29 appearances across all competitions. Speculation about a January departure has subsided, especially after his impressive performance as a substitute against Brentford two weeks ago, where he scored two late goals to secure a 2-0 victory.

Squad depth remains crucial as Liverpool continues to compete on four fronts during Slot’s inaugural season in charge. The club’s stance on retaining Nunez highlights their commitment to maintaining a strong squad for their ongoing pursuits.