Darwin Nunez’s spell with Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal has quickly turned sour in recent weeks.
After winning the Premier League title with Liverpool last season, the Uruguayan international moved to Simeone Inzaghi’s side for a fee believed to be in the region of £46m.
Nunez didn’t set the world alight with his performances in the Middle East, but in the January transfer window, he was removed from Al Hilal’s SPL squad after the arrival of Karim Benzema from Al-Ittihad.
And now, if reports from England are to be believed, he’s not against returning to the Premier League, with Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United keeping a close eye on his situation.
Nunez willing to take pay cut
Nunez has scored just nine times for Al-Hilal since his move from Liverpool and the club’s decision to drop him from the squad for the SPL and the Asian Cup is undoubtedly a huge blow, particularly with the 2026 FIFA World Cup on the horizon.
However, despite his unceremonious axing from featuring domestically, Nunez featured in the club’s 2-1 AFC Champions League win against Al-Waheda, scoring two goals.
The Uruguayan striker also appeared to send a message to the Al Hilal hierarchy with his goal celebration, as he pointed to them in the stands after completing his brace.
In the meantime, TEAMtalk report that Newcastle United and Tottenham have made enquiries to secure his signature in the summer, while other Premier League clubs are also in the running.
Nunez is willing to take a sizable pay cut – described in the report as a ‘personal sacrifice’ – on his £400,000-a-week salary to return to England, with Juventus and Atletico Madrid also mentioned as ‘long-term admirers’ of the mercurial forward.
Tottenham could do well with another striker
While Dominic Solanke is a decent player in his own right, Spurs could do well with another striker in the squad to provide cover and competition for the England international.
Randal Kolo Muani is currently at the club, but his loan move is unlikely to be made permanent, while Mathys Tel is better suited to the left wing.
Whether or not Nunez is the right man for the role is a decision the Tottenham hierarchy will have to make, with the Uruguayan dividing opinion during his spell with Liverpool.
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He scored a few spectacular goals but never managed to produce the goods consistently during his three-year spell at Anfield, due to which the Reds cut their losses and offloaded him to England.
Maybe the pressure of leading the line for Liverpool proved to be too much for Nunez. However, under the right manager, he certainly has all the tools to fine-tune his game.
Tottenham are also monitoring Keisuke Goto, who is enjoying a breakout season in the Belgian top-flight.
Whether they turn to the Japanese striker, or Nunez, or someone else remains to be seen, but the forthcoming summer could be one of the most important periods in the club’s recent history.
