Darwin Nunez left fuming: Liverpool striker frustrated after Reds reject mega-money Al-Nassr bid before striking deal to sign Jhon Duran from Aston Villa

According to The Sun, the Saudi Pro League club had expressed serious interest in securing Nunez’s services and were prepared to fork out a substantial bid to lure him away from Anfield. However, Liverpool made it clear that they had no intention of letting the 25-year-old leave. Al-Nassr eventually shifted their focus to Aston Villa's Jhon Duran, finalizing a £64 million ($80m) deal for the Colombian forward.

The speculation around Nunez's future intensified when he was omitted from Liverpool’s squad for their Champions League defeat to PSV Eindhoven. However, Slot clarified that the striker was dealing with a minor illness and was not left out for any transfer-related reasons.

So far this season, Nunez has netted six goals and provided four assists in 29 appearances across all competitions. His performances have been inconsistent, but he has still delivered key moments, including a dramatic late brace that secured a stoppage-time 2-0 victory over Brentford two weeks ago.

Despite missing that fixture, Nunez returned to training shortly after and has travelled with the Liverpool squad ahead of their Premier League clash against Bournemouth. However, it remains to be seen if Slot hands him a start against The Cherries.

While Liverpool’s rejection of Al-Nassr’s bid effectively ended any immediate speculation, questions about Nunez’s long-term future at Anfield remain. The club is expected to reassess its plans for the forward during the summer transfer window, where a potential move could be revisited. For now, Nunez will look to put the speculation behind him and focus on making an impact when given opportunities as the Merseyside club are competing on four fronts.