Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola is reportedly ‘pushing’ hard to bring striker Darwin Núñez back to Anfield, according to Spanish outlet Fichajes.
The Uruguayan forward originally joined Liverpool from SL Benfica in 2022 after impressing the club with his performances in Portugal.
Núñez won a Premier League title and a Community Shield during his time at Anfield, but he never truly flourished in the English top-flight.
Liverpool decided to cash in on the striker last summer, with Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal purchasing him from the Merseyside club.
His move to Saudi Arabia has not gone smoothly either, with Núñez enduring a difficult spell in the Saudi Pro League despite remaining a key figure for Uruguay nationally.
The impetus for Iraola’s interest reportedly stems from a serious injury suffered by Hugo Ekitike, which has left Liverpool short of options in attack.
Iraola is said to value Núñez’s willingness to work hard without the ball, a quality considered essential to the Spaniard’s high-intensity style of football.
Transfermarkt currently values the South American at around £17m, though Al-Hilal are likely to demand a considerably higher fee given his contract runs until 2028.
Liverpool have already been active in the transfer market this summer, signing Victor Muñoz from Osasuna and working on a deal for Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig.
Bradley Barcola has also been linked with a move to Anfield, suggesting the club is serious about overhauling its attacking options this window.
Liverpool currently list Alexander Isak and Ekitike as striker options, but Isak battled fitness problems throughout last campaign, adding further urgency to the search.
Núñez’s familiarity with the Premier League and his physical attributes, including pace, aerial ability, and pressing work rate, make him an appealing short-term option for Iraola.
However, given the forward’s recent inconsistency, it remains unlikely that Liverpool’s hierarchy will ultimately sanction a move to bring him back to the club.
Whether Iraola’s persistence convinces Liverpool’s decision-makers to pursue the deal over the coming weeks remains one of the more intriguing subplots of their summer business.