Liverpool received two bids for a key player during the January transfer window, but no agreement was reached.
The Reds are currently gearing up for the Merseyside derby against Everton at Goodison Park on Wednesday evening. They enter the match six points ahead of second-place Arsenal and have the opportunity to extend their lead to nine with a win over their city rivals.
Since Arne Slot took charge ahead of the 2024/25 season, Liverpool have enjoyed a largely successful campaign. They comfortably navigated the expanded 36-team Champions League group stage, securing a top finish and automatic qualification for the round of 16.
Last week, they triumphed over Tottenham with a 4-1 aggregate victory in the Carabao Cup semi-final, though they suffered a surprising 1-0 defeat to Championship side Plymouth in the FA Cup fourth round.
Despite their strong performances, concerns remain among fans regarding the contracts of Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, and Trent Alexander-Arnold, all of whom are set to expire at the end of the season. However, it was another player who came close to leaving the club in January.
According to Fabrizio Romano via GiveMeSport, Darwin Nunez was the subject of two bids from Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr. The club made “two official proposals” for the striker, aiming to secure him as their new number 9 to partner with Cristiano Ronaldo under head coach Stefano Pioli.
Reports indicate that the second offer exceeded €75 million (£62.5 million) plus add-ons, a fee comparable to Jhon Duran’s transfer from Aston Villa to Al-Nassr. Negotiations reportedly reached an “advanced” stage, but a deal ultimately fell through as Liverpool were concerned they wouldn’t have enough time to find a suitable replacement for the 25-year-old forward.
Nunez joined Liverpool in June 2022 for a club-record £85 million, but he has struggled to fully justify his price tag, leading to speculation about his future at the club. This season, he has made 32 appearances, scoring six goals and providing five assists, though he has often played a secondary role behind Cody Gakpo, Diogo Jota, and Luis Diaz in Liverpool’s attack.
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