Darwin Núñez Close to Atlético Madrid Transfer as Liverpool Restructure
Liverpool striker Darwin Núñez appears set for a transfer to Atlético Madrid, signaling the end of a turbulent spell at Anfield since his £85 million move from Benfica in 2022. While Núñez has shown occasional brilliance, he hasn’t fully adapted to Arne Slot’s system, prompting talks of a departure.
Sources, including Cadena SER, claim Núñez has verbally agreed to join Atlético, where manager Diego Simeone is eager to add the Uruguayan to his squad as a successor to Antoine Griezmann. Simeone believes he can unlock Núñez’s potential, especially when paired with in-form striker Julian Alvarez. However, negotiations continue, with Liverpool pushing for a direct sale to recover a large portion of their investment, while Atlético prefers a loan deal with an obligation to buy.
Núñez has scored 40 goals in three seasons for Liverpool but has struggled with consistency and game time, especially under Slot. He made only eight league starts in 2024-25 and was frequently used as a substitute. Despite interest from clubs like Napoli, AC Milan, RB Leipzig, Fenerbahce, and Al-Hilal, Núñez is focused on joining Atlético.
Liverpool is planning a broader squad overhaul and has been linked with replacements such as Jonathan David and Rayan Cherki. Talks of a possible swap involving Julian Alvarez have surfaced, though no deal has been finalized. Núñez’s potential final game for Liverpool could be against Crystal Palace, where the team will celebrate their Premier League title win.
The outcome of the deal depends on whether Atlético can meet Liverpool’s financial terms and offload Ángel Correa to make space. As the summer window approaches, Núñez could be preparing for a fresh start in La Liga, while Liverpool eyes reinforcements for another title challenge.
