Transfer Centre

Liverpool to move for Dusan Vlahovic if Darwin Nunez leaves?

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 04 December 2022

Liverpool may reportedly consider a move for Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic if Darwin Nunez leaves Anfield to sign for Real Madrid.

Liverpool could allegedly consider a move for Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic if Darwin Nunez leaves the club in the near future.

Nunez only arrived at Anfield in a £64m deal from Benfica in the summer, which could rise to £85m and make him the Reds' most expensive signing of all time if all add-ons are hit.

The Uruguay international has not had the easiest of starts to life with the Merseyside giants, but he has returned a respectable nine goals and two assists in 18 appearances in all tournaments.

Nunez is contracted to Jurgen Klopp's side until the end of the 2027-28 season, but there have been suggestions that Real Madrid are plotting a future move for the 23-year-old.

Carlo Ancelotti is starting to plan for life without Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema, who turns 35 later this month, and he has supposedly identified Nunez as a priority target.

Darwin Nunez celebrates scoring for Liverpool on November 1, 2022 © Reuters

Should Los Blancos' pursuit of Nunez prove successful, Calciomercatoweb claims that Liverpool could turn their attention to Juve attacker Vlahovic to fill the void.

The report claims that Nunez leaving Liverpool for Real Madrid is not beyond the realm of possibility, and Klopp's side have long held an admiration for Vlahovic.

The Serbia international was supposedly wanted by numerous clubs amid his prolific exploits with Fiorentina, and Arsenal were believed to have been at the head of the queue at one point in January.

However, Vlahovic snubbed interest from the Gunners to make the move to Juventus, and he ended his first half-season in Turin with nine goals in 21 appearances.

The 22-year-old has added another seven goals and two assists to his tally from 15 games in the 2022-23 campaign, but there have been suggestions that he is unhappy at the Allianz Stadium.

Dusan Vlahovic in action for Juventus on October 21, 2022 © Reuters

Vlahovic is under contract with Massimiliano Allegri's side until 2026, but the Old Lady have already been knocked out of the Champions League and are 10 points behind leaders Napoli in the Serie A table.

The same report from Calciomercatoweb adds that Juventus would be willing to entertain offers of €80m (£68.6m), which would go towards a significant squad overhaul next summer.

Manchester United and Chelsea are also said to be monitoring developments surrounding Vlahovic, who has a total of 16 goals and four assists in 36 games for Juventus since January.

The former Partizan Belgrade youngster scored one World Cup goal for Serbia in their final Group G game against Switzerland, but his nation finished fourth in the section after taking just one point from their three matches.