Liverpool know Darwin Nunez truth with writing on wall for £47.5m striker after public criticism

Liverpool know Darwin Nunez truth with writing on wall for £47.5m striker after public criticism

Joe Cole has compared Darwin Nunez's struggles to that of former Liverpool transfer target Timo Werner - but such a claim really doesn't do the Uruguayan justice

Darwin Nunez of Liverpool celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the Carabao Cup Quarter Final match between Southampton and Liverpool at St Mary's Stadium (Image: Nikki Dyer - LFC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images2024 Liverpool FC )

Liverpool have signed two centre-forwards since missing out on Timo Werner in the summer of 2020. As the Reds closed in on a maiden Premier League title, they were heavily linked with a move for the Germany international.

However, despite seemingly leading the race for the RB Leipzig star, the financial ramifications of the Coronavirus pandemic ultimately forced Liverpool’s hand. They were then not in a position to meet his £47.5m release clause when he joined Chelsea in June 2020.

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The Reds would instead go on to sign Diogo Jota from Wolverhampton Wanderers in a deal worth up to £45m the following September. It is fair to say they have no regrets, with both decisions working out well in Liverpool’s favour.

While the Portuguese’s Anfield career has admittedly been littered with injury, he has still returned an eye-catching 61 goals and 21 assists from 157 appearances for the club. And that’s despite rarely being considered undisputed first choice in attack for the Reds.

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In contrast, Werner scored just 10 Premier League goals in 56 appearances for Chelsea, before being sold back to RB Leipzig at a considerable loss in a £25m move two years later.

The German might have won the Champions League with the club, but it is fair to say that he was something of a big-money flop for the Londoners.

Now back in the Premier League with Tottenham Hotspur, having failed to recreate the heights of his first stint with RB Leipzig, his fortunes in English football have not changed. The 28-year-old has only scored three times for Spurs from 34 appearances since joining them on loan back in January.

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Having become nothing more than a squad option under Ange Postecoglou, he was even lambasted by the Australian after being hooked at half-time against Rangers earlier this month.

While Jota has been a resounding success at Liverpool, the jury admittedly remains out on the Reds’ second centre-forward signing in the last four years - Darwin Nunez.

Now in his third season at Anfield after joining in a club-record £85m switch back in the summer of 2022, the Uruguayan remains raw, erratic and inconsistent.

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This had led former Liverpool and Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole to admit that Nunez reminds him of Werner.

“When I think of Darwin Nunez, I think of an extreme version of Timo Werner, he told Paddy Power . “Both are clearly top players, but something isn’t clicking for them at the moment.

“For Werner, he’s won trophies throughout his career, he’s played international football for Germany, which is similar for Darwin, and we know he’s a wonderful player.

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“Liverpool spent a lot of money on him, but something could have happened which we don’t know about and that is why he’s not performing as well. He could be carrying a niggle, maybe he’s unhappy or it could be a drop in confidence, but I’m sure it will be a complex situation.

“Ultimately, it will come down to the player to do a bit of soul-searching and figure out how he’s going to get back to his best, but what I would say is that there is a top player in there.

“He can do better than what he’s currently showing, and he needs to come through this tricky part of his career, which I’m sure he will.”

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Both big-money signings who have perhaps failed to live up to expectations in England, it is easy to see why Cole has made such a comparison. Though how he deems Nunez as the 'extreme' version to Werner is rather questionable.

Despite Nunez’s inconsistencies, his record in England is obviously superior to the German’s. He boasts 37 goals and 20 assists from 117 appearances for Liverpool, while Werner has 26 goals and 23 assists from 123 outings.

He has never truly demonstrated why the Reds wanted him in 2020 and why Chelsea were willing to spend £48.5m on him in the first place. Consequently, it was a surprise when he returned to England with Spurs.

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While Nunez is inconsistent, he has also shown glimpses of his talent to, admittedly at times, justify his £85m Liverpool transfer.

Set to turn 29 in March, it would be a surprise if Tottenham made Werner’s loan move permanent despite possessing an option to buy clause in the region of £8.5m. Postecoglou’s criticism and decreasing reliance on the forward would suggest that the writing is on the wall regarding his future as the German contests a losing battle.

In contrast, Arne Slot continues to back Nunez, with the striker repaying such faith by ending his recent goalscoring drought against Southampton in midweek.

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Werner is now playing a big-part role at Tottenham, but Nunez, rightly or wrongly, continues to play a big part at Liverpool. While it remains to be seen if Slot sticks with long-term, the Uruguayan is still only 25 with the ball certainly in his court when it comes to fighting for his Reds future.

Liverpool will have no regrets at missing out on Werner four years ago. While he might have fared differently under Jurgen Klopp, he is now flopping at his second Premier League club.

But while the jury admittedly remains out on Nunez, he remains a firm fan-favourite at Anfield with the Reds not yet regretting his own arrival either.

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Cole might see similarities between the pair, but as inconsistent as the Uruguayan, such a comparison is perhaps a little unfair on Liverpool’s £85m man. Regularly belittled as 'just a s**t Andy Carroll' by opposing supporters, it is clear he is neither that nor an 'extreme Timo Werner'.

He is just a very talented - albeit unpredictable - player who, at his best, does not get the credit he deserves. Now, perhaps easier said than done, he just needs to show his best far more consistently. Cole is at least confident he is capable and can turn the corner, but only time will tell if he is proven right.

The Uruguayan might not be a Champions League winner, like Werner, but the way Slot’s first season at Anfield is unfolding, you would not bet against him lifting major honours with the Reds in the not-too-distant future. And if so, rest assured, Nunez will be front and centre of whatever Liverpool go on to achieve.

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