Liverpool have reportedly benched Darwin Nunez in recent weeks in order to avoid having to pay a performance-related add-on to Benfica.
The Reds need just one more point to claim the title following Arsenal's 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace on Wednesday night, and the 2024-25 season looks certain to be one of the club's most successful in the Premier League era.
However, forward Nunez has not enjoyed a particularly fruitful campaign, and it would not be surprising if he headed for the exit door.
The Uruguayan striker was signed by the Merseysiders in the summer of 2022 from Benfica for an initial fee in the region of £64m, with potential performance-based add-ons taking the sum closer to £85m.
Nunez has only started 59 times for Liverpool in the Premier League and Champions League since joining, and Portuguese media outlet A Bola claim that the club would have to pay Benfica an extra £4.2m should he start one more game in either competition.
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Who could replace Nunez?
Be it Nunez, Diogo Jota or Luis Diaz, boss Arne Slot has often asked his starting number nine to drop deep and help to facilitate play for others such as Mohamed Salah.
Considering Salah has signed a two-year extension to stay at Anfield, it would be sensible to look at signing a forward adept at linking play in small spaces.
The Reds have been linked with numerous strikers over the course of the campaign, including Newcastle United's Alexander Isak and Atletico Madrid's Julian Alvarez.
Liverpool may face an uphill battle to sign either attacker given both of their clubs would likely demand a fee in the region of £100m.
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Has Nunez been made a scapegoat?
During his time on Merseyside, Nunez's ability to finish chances has often been criticised, with the 25-year-old scoring 11 Premier League goals last term despite accumulating over 16 xG.
However, the striker has missed just six big chances in the league this campaign, whereas Diaz has missed nine and Jota has missed 13.
It should be noted that the Uruguayan has managed to score five goals this season from an xG figure of exactly five and has only played 1,010 minutes in the top flight.
Nunez has been named in the starting XI once since February 9, leading the line in his side's clash at Anfield against Southampton in early March, but he has not been selected from the start in 13 of Liverpool's 14 games in that period.
Though it is difficult to argue that his time at Anfield has been a success, Nunez has arguably not featured enough to warrant the criticism he has faced in 2024-25.
Lewis Nolan
