Liverpool wanted Darwin Nunez SWAP DEAL before transfer rejection
Cameron Smith
- 8 Sept 2023 07:35 BST
- 4 min read
Liverpool were keen on including Darwin Nunez in a swap deal for Atletico Madrid forward Joao Felix before he joined Barcelona on loan, according to sensational reports in Spain.
Felix, 23, returned to Atleti this summer after a fairly unsuccessful loan spell at Chelsea and was heavily touted for a move away for a multitude of reasons.
Antoine Griezmann’s permanent return to the club saw him take Felix’s number seven jersey, while Diego Simeone wasn’t keen on the Portugal international and Felix himself admitted his “dream” of playing for Barcelona.
READ MORE: Joao Felix, Mbappe and the biggest loan fees of all time
That became a reality on Transfer Deadline Day when the Blaugrana secured one-year loan deals for Felix and his international team-mate Joao Cancelo.
However, Mundo Deportivo have reported that Liverpool launched an ‘audacious’ swap deal proposal, with Nunez included, in a bid to sign Felix. But, the Portugal international turned down a move to Anfield in order to fulfil his dream of playing for Barca.
Liverpool’s interest in Felix was exclusively broken by FootballTransfers in August, with the Reds keen on signing the former Chelsea loanee as Mohamed Salah’s replacement if the Egyptian left the club for Saudi Arabia.
READ MORE: Chelsea still WASTING MONEY after transfer window closes
Despite interest from Al-Ittihad, Salah remains a Liverpool player and with the Saudi Pro League transfer window now shut, the threat of an Anfield exit has disappeared for the time being.
Nunez at Liverpool
After arriving for a huge fee of €80 million in 2022, big things were expected of Nunez upon his arrival at Liverpool. The Uruguay international, 24, netted 15 goals and provided four assists in all competitions, but saw his place in the starting XI taken by Cody Gakpo after the Dutchman joined in January.
In total, Nunez started 19 league games during his debut Liverpool campaign.
He has scored two Premier League goals so far this season, courtesy of his late, match-winning brace against Newcastle United.
