Napoli start Darwin Nunez bidding war; Atletico Madrid and Al Hilal in pursuit

As Liverpool’s pre-season schedule shifts into gear, all signs point towards Darwin Nunez departing the club.

The Uruguayan forward never truly stamped his authority on the Reds’ front line – scoring 40 goals in 143 appearances across all competitions. It is a far cry from his output for Benfica, where he racked up 48 goals in two years.

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Now, Betfred have published odds on a handful of European and international teams to sign the 26-year-old centre forward.

Napoli – 2/1 

Italy’s reigning champions have been linked with a deluge of underperforming Premier League stars this summer, as Nunez joins Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho and Federico Chiesa in potentially swapping England for Naples.

Like the other players mentioned, the arrival of Nunez would make some sense.

Napoli were overly reliant on Romelu Lukaku and Scott McTominay on the scoring front in 2024/25, who amassed a cumulative 26 goals. A younger proposition than Lukaku, the pair could complement their respective talents – with the Belgian a traditional middle man and the South American an emotional bag of energy. 

A bid from the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium has already been rejected by Liverpool, but Betfred’s 2/1 odds suggest this saga is far from over.

Any Saudi Arabian team – 3/1 

One of the initial driving factors behind this link was the deep pockets worn by PIF-owned clubs. 

However, recent reports point to direct contact regarding Darwin Nunez between Al Hilal manager, Simone Inzaghi, and Liverpool. The ex-Inter Milan boss is keen to strengthen his attacking options, with Marcos Leonardo the squad’s sole reliable goalscoring threat under 30 years old. 

Any agreement would necessitate a big fee for Nunez, who is contracted with Liverpool until 2028. 

Betfred have Nunez to any Saudi Arabian team at 3/1 – but Al Hilal are clear front-runners. 

Atletico Madrid – 7/1

Diego Simeone and co. were eliminated from the new-look FIFA Club World Cup earlier than expected, and the longstanding manager is now plotting an attacking reform.

In 2024/25, Alexander Sorloth and Julian Alvarez led the club’s scoring charts – but whispers of a potential transfer for the latter have swirled throughout the transfer window.

If the former Manchester City man leaves, Simeone may view Nunez as an ideal replacement. 

His tenacity and pace would suit La Liga – though no concrete evidence of a switch has come to light. At 7/1, Betfred’s odds supply some solid value for this transfer.

Newcastle – 33/1

Admittedly slightly out of left field, Darwin Nunez is priced at 33/1 by Betfred to join Eddie Howe’s side.

One pivotal element could launch this move into action: Alexander Isak's rumoured transfer away from the Magpies. 

Isak has long been tied to Arsenal and Liverpool, so the possibility of a swap deal stands as the likeliest outcome. 

With that said, Nunez’s Premier League struggles may dissuade Newcastle from agreeing to such a proposal.