Darwin Nunez’s agent Jorge Mendes ‘wants star to QUIT Liverpool and leaks asking price with Barcelona keen on transfer’
DARWIN NUNEZ’S agent Jorge Mendes has reportedly leaked Liverpool’s asking price as he pushes for a move to Barcelona.
SunSport exclusively revealed last week that the Catalans are eyeing a shock move for Nunez to replace Robert Lewandowski.
And the Uruguayan fuelled speculation when he deleted all Liverpool-related posts from his Instagram.
He was then spotted in Barcelona on a day off from training this week.
And, according to reports in Spain, Nunez’s agent Jorge Mendes is now pushing for a deal to happen.
Mas Que Pelotas (via Sport) say that super agent Mendes hopes Barca would get the best out of the misfiring frontman.
And it is claimed he has even told the Spanish giants that Liverpool will accept an offer of £73million.
And cash-strapped Barca believe they could afford that fee is they manage to offload their big earners in the summer.
Barca’s salary cap has been slashed to just over £174million by LaLiga, meaning they will have to offload higher-paid to press on with a planned rebuild.
With wages that will rocket to £27m next season, Lewandowski is the biggest earner of all — and almost certain to be sacrificed.
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Nunez is among the best paid at Liverpool but he is on about a quarter of the Polish forward’s money, which puts him well within Barcelona’s range.
The Uruguay hitman is the Reds’ record buy, costing £85m from Benfica two years ago, with a contract running to 2028.
But Anfield top brass are aware of handing incoming boss Arne Slot a decent summer kitty.
Nunez has made 95 appearances for Liverpool, scoring 33 goals and registering 17 assists.
But he has struggled this season, scoring only 11 goals in 34 Premier League appearances.
The striker has lacked a clinical edge, with no player in Europe’s top five leagues missing more big chances.
Slot snubbed Spurs, hates defending and has a PASS named after him
By Dan King
LIVERPOOL managerial target Arne Slot was a good enough player to have a type of pass named after him.
But it is as a manager that the Feyenoord head coach is really making his mark.
Like another bald Dutchman, Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag, Slot earned his stripes bossing smaller sides before being given a chance at one of the Netherlands’ big three.
But the question Liverpool are pondering is whether Slot would make a better fist of running one of the biggest clubs in the world than Ten Hag so far has at Old Trafford.
Slot, 45, was certainly easier on the eye as a player than centre back Ten Hag.
“The Arne Slot Ball” was something he perfected as a silky No 10 – a back-to-goal, first-time, 180-degree spin and flick behind the defensive line for a winger to run on to deep in the opposition half.
Click here to read all about the incoming Liverpool boss.