Premier League champions are unwilling to accept too low a fee for a player they signed for €100m from Benfica
Liverpool will not budge on their €60m valuation of Darwin Nunez, despite pressure from Napoli to conclude a deal for the Uruguay international.
Nunez remains a top target for Napoli manager Antonio Conte, but the Italian champions have so far failed to meet Liverpool’s asking price. Their current offer stands at €50m plus €5m in performance-based bonuses, just shy of the figure Liverpool are demanding.
Club sources have said that Arne Slot does not view Nunez as indispensable, but Liverpool are still unwilling to accept too low a fee for a player they signed for €100m from Benfica, even if he is no longer seen as part of the club’s long-term plans.
The standoff has left Nunez in a state of limbo as pre-season preparations start. While Liverpool would prefer to resolve the situation quickly, they are also prepared to retain the player if Napoli don’t meet their valuation in full.
Nunez endured a difficult second season in England, scoring just five goals in the Premier League while slipping down the pecking order behind Cody Gakpo and Diogo Jota, before the latter’s tragic death earlier this month.
However, the Uruguayan forward has started on a positive note in pre-season, scoring Liverpool’s second against Preston North End at Deepdale on Sunday.
