Darwin Núñez's Future: Liverpool Hesitates as AC Milan Eyes Move

Darwin Núñez’s Liverpool return is slipping off the table – and AC Milan are moving into position.

The Uruguayan striker, once the record signing at Anfield, is living through the bleakest chapter of his career. Twelve months ago he walked away from Liverpool for a lucrative move to Al-Hilal, a £46 million transfer sweetened by a staggering £400,000-per-week contract. It was supposed to be his prime, his payday, his platform.

Instead, it has turned into a footballing dead end.

From marquee signing to the margins

Núñez, now 27, has barely featured since February. Al-Hilal’s decision to bring in Karim Benzema changed everything. The Frenchman arrived as the new focal point; Núñez was pushed to the edges and ultimately de-listed from the domestic squad. For a No 9 who thrives on rhythm and repetition, the absence of minutes has cut deep.

That lack of football has not gone unnoticed back home. Uruguay head coach Marcelo Bielsa is understood to have long-standing concerns over the striker’s condition, with reports suggesting the former Leeds United boss believes Núñez has “physically deteriorated” during this prolonged spell of inactivity. Núñez is still in the World Cup squad, still part of the national picture, but he is no longer the relentless, rampaging forward he once looked on the European stage.

Al-Hilal, sensing the stand-off is unsustainable, are now prepared to let him go. A free transfer is on the table, or at worst a heavily reduced fee, with the Saudi club reportedly willing to tear up his enormous deal to clear the decks and facilitate a return to Europe.

Liverpool step back as Milan circle

That scenario naturally sparked talk of a Liverpool reunion. A cut-price Núñez, older, chastened, and desperate to prove himself again – it writes itself. Yet those inside Anfield are not convinced. Reports indicate the outgoing Premier League champions are reluctant to gamble on a player whose form and fitness have both been dragged into question.

While Liverpool hesitate, another heavyweight has stepped into the frame.

Rúben Amorim’s AC Milan are now eyeing Núñez as a live target. According to Milan-based reports, including Milan Vibes, the Rossoneri have already made initial contact with players at the World Cup – and Núñez is among the names discussed.

The numbers are the first hurdle. Núñez’s current salary, around €2 million per month, sits well beyond Milan’s structure. For a club that has worked hard to keep its wage bill under control, that kind of figure is unsustainable. Any deal would hinge on serious compromise.

Two paths to San Siro

Inside Milan, the framework is clear. There are two realistic routes to bring Núñez to San Siro.

The first is a permanent transfer at a fee far below the £46 million Al-Hilal paid. That would give Milan full control over his new contract and the freedom to tailor a salary that fits within their internal caps. It could become even more manageable if Rafael Leão, currently occupying the club’s highest salary bracket, were to leave. His departure would open up a sizeable slot in the wage structure and make room for another marquee earner.

The second option is a loan, with Al-Hilal continuing to shoulder a portion of Núñez’s salary. On paper, that looks like the cleanest way to bridge the financial gap. In reality, those close to the situation see it as “highly unlikely”, with little appetite from Saudi Arabia to subsidise a player they are already prepared to cut loose.

Milan know Núñez well. They tracked him during his Benfica days and were linked again while he was at Liverpool. The striker himself is reported to regret missing out on Serie A last summer, when a move to Napoli never materialised.

Now, with his Saudi adventure unravelling and Liverpool turning away, the door to Italy is open once more.

The question is whether AC Milan see a fading asset – or a centre-forward ready to be rebuilt on one of European football’s grandest stages.