After playing a key role in Liverpool’s Premier League title triumph under Arne Slot, Darwin Núñez made headlines by departing Anfield for a new adventure in the Saudi Pro League with Al Hilal.
The Uruguayan forward joined the Riyadh club in a £46 million transfer, adding his name to the growing list of European stars moving to the Middle East. His start has been encouraging — four goals and two assists in his first eight appearances — and with a contract running until 2028, Al Hilal clearly see him as a long-term asset.
However, reports have begun circulating that Núñez might not stay in Saudi Arabia as long as expected. Speculation intensified after comments from former World Cup winner Marcel Desailly, who believes the striker would be an ideal fit for Chelsea.
Desailly, a club legend who made over 220 appearances for the Blues, praised Núñez’s physicality, energy, and finishing instincts, suggesting that he could be the solution to Chelsea’s ongoing search for a reliable centre-forward. Despite new signings such as João Pedro and Liam Delap, and promising academy talents like Marc Guiu and Tyrique George, the Blues still lack a proven No. 9.
“For me, Núñez was perfect — absolutely spot on,” Desailly said in an interview with OLGB. “He’s still young, and although his time at Liverpool wasn’t perfect, the fact they spent so much on him shows his quality. In Enzo Maresca’s system, he would thrive. If things don’t go as planned in Saudi Arabia, I can see him coming back.”
Núñez joined Liverpool from Benfica in 2022 for an initial £64 million, tasked with replacing Sadio Mané. While his work rate and intensity earned him admiration, inconsistency in front of goal limited his impact, with his best league return being 11 goals during the 2023/24 season.
Now, with growing interest and backing from figures like Desailly, a sensational Premier League return for Darwin Núñez might not be far away
