Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp responded defiantly when asked whether Barcelona-linked striker Darwin Nunez could leave the club in the upcoming transfer window.
The former Benfica striker has been a stalwart of the Reds' XI throughout the 2023-24 season with 52 appearances to his name, coming up with 18 goals and 13 assists in that time.
Despite his respectable output and ability to bring an air of unpredictability to Liverpool's attacks, Nunez has been lambasted for his well-documented wastefulness and low big-chance conversion rate.
The 24-year-old has only made the first XI in one of Liverpool's last four Premier League matches, and he missed a gilt-edged chance to score as a substitute in last weekend's 4-2 victory over Tottenham Hotspur.
Following his latest high-profile attacking mishap, Nunez aroused speculation that his days at Liverpool could be numbered by deleting almost every post relating to the Reds from his Instagram account.
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Klopp: 'No speculation about Nunez future'
The South American attacker also appeared to block several prominent Liverpool fan accounts on X - formerly known as Twitter - after allegedly receiving online abuse about his late miss in the Tottenham triumph.
Nunez's Liverpool contract does not expire for another four seasons, but it has been claimed that La Liga giants Barcelona are interested in bringing him to Camp Nou as a replacement for Robert Lewandowski.
However, speaking to the press ahead of Monday's Premier League trip to Aston Villa, Klopp insisted that there is nothing to the Blaugrana speculation and launched an impassioned defence of the attacker amid his goalscoring troubles.
"There's no speculation [about his future] – that must be external speculation because I don't know about it... I am not involved in that anymore but there is no speculation right now, it's just the situation we are in," Klopp said.
"Yes, Darwin was definitely not happy missing that chance [against Tottenham]. He was unlucky – let me say 'was' because that could have changed now, probably – in so many situations where he is doing everything right and then the ball goes still not in, and that's really tough for a young man. It's really tough.
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Barcelona 'told Nunez asking price by agent'
"He knows about expectations, he has big expectations on himself, that's tough and you have to go through this. There is no alternative than going through it and that is what he is doing right now.
"We tried to help him with all we can but in the end, you have to go through it. Everybody had to go through this and this is part of a footballer's career, that is all."
In spite of Klopp's bullish response, journalist Nicolas Saavedra - via Sport - claims that Nunez's agent Jorge Mendes is pushing for the striker to head for the Anfield exit door this summer, and Barcelona have been informed of the conditions needed to sign him.
The Reds would supposedly demand at least €85m (£73.1m) to part ways with Nunez over the summer, but the ex-Benfica man is in no hurry to decide his future as he prioritises the upcoming Copa America.
Nunez has contributed 33 goals and 17 assists in 94 matches since joining Liverpool from Benfica in 2022, and his transfer fee could hit a club-record £85m if all add-ons are met.
Barcelona are also being tipped to make a move for another Liverpool attacker in Luis Diaz ahead of the 2024-25 season, but Mohamed Salah - about to enter the final year of his contract - is expected to remain on Merseyside for the upcoming campaign.
Ben Knapton
