Former Manchester United striker Dwight Yorke has urged the club to consider a surprising move for Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez. The Uruguay international is expected to leave Anfield this summer, but his next destination remains uncertain.
Atletico Madrid is among the clubs reportedly interested in Nunez and may have an advantage, as the former Benfica star is said to prefer a move to the Spanish capital.
“He’s not quite lived up to expectations, and sometimes a new start might benefit a player, rather than just being another number and getting sporadic game time,” Yorke commented to gamblingindustrynews.com. “What I see is a young man wanting a platform to establish himself as the main man at a football club. He’s not going to achieve that with players like Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk around.”
Yorke added, “If I were in charge at United, I would look beyond the Liverpool and Manchester United rivalry. I see a young player with a strong presence and potential that hasn’t been fully realized yet.”
Nunez joined Liverpool in the summer of 2022 for an initial fee of £64 million, with potential add-ons of up to £21 million. However, he seems likely to depart Anfield while still having three years left on his contract. Although he netted 48 goals in his final season with Benfica, he has yet to replicate that form in his three seasons with Liverpool, scoring just seven times in 40 appearances this season, often being used as a substitute.
Liverpool’s manager Arne Slot has acknowledged the need for more offensive options after some disappointing performances. His comments follow a critique of Nunez for his approach during a draw with Aston Villa in February, where the striker missed a crucial opportunity.
“Chance is the keyword here,” Slot remarked during the briefing, emphasizing the unpredictable nature of the game. “However, I would much prefer him to convert those opportunities into goals.” He continued, acknowledging the reality that players often miss chances, and there’s no guarantee that every shot on goal will result in a score.
“What troubled me more was his reaction to that missed opportunity,” Slot expressed, his brow furrowed in thought. “It was difficult for me to accept. He didn’t display the usual tenacity we’ve come to expect from Darwin, the player who tirelessly supports his teammates. Rather, it seemed as though the burden of that one lost opportunity weighed heavily on him, influencing both his demeanor and general performance on the field. His tendency to back down rather than get back up after such failures was alarming and revealed a unique weakness that we don’t usually see in him.
