Darwin Nunez today: Liverpool return cools as Milan interest grows

Last updated: June 27, 2026

Darwin Nunez is at the centre of a new transfer scramble on June 27, 2026, with Liverpool reportedly cooling talk of an Anfield return while AC Milan have made contact around the Al-Hilal striker. The Uruguayan’s Saudi spell has stalled badly, and that has opened the door to Premier League and Serie A links. For Canadian fans following the 2026 World Cup and the summer market, the story is less about one rumour and more about whether a high-profile forward can recover his rhythm quickly enough to matter next season.

Several reports describe Nunez as available after falling out of Al-Hilal’s domestic plans, but they split sharply on where he could land next. Liverpool links have been played down by multiple outlets, while Milan’s interest appears more active but financially difficult.

The Full Story

Nunez’s situation changed after his move from Liverpool to Al-Hilal. Yahoo Sports Canada, carrying GOAL’s report, says Liverpool originally signed him from Benfica in 2022 for £64 million, and he went on to score 40 goals in 143 appearances. That output was productive, but not enough to fully settle the debate around him at Anfield, where his energy made him a cult figure more than a guaranteed long-term answer.

The Saudi move was meant to reset the story. Instead, reports say foreign-player limits at Al-Hilal pushed Nunez out of the domestic squad, with the striker now cleared to look for a new club. Anfield Watch says his club football has effectively been paused since February after Al-Hilal signed Karim Benzema, while GiveMeSport reports he was unregistered from league competition in the second half of the campaign.

That lack of minutes matters because the World Cup has kept the spotlight on him. Anfield Watch reports Uruguay head coach Marcelo Bielsa has viewed Nunez as “physically deteriorated” after his period of inactivity, and that phrase has followed the player through the transfer chatter. A striker who depends on pace, timing and aggression needs match rhythm; without it, clubs are weighing both his upside and the recovery work needed before he can lead a line again.

Liverpool are the emotional link, but the practical picture points elsewhere. Football365 reports that Liverpool are “not currently in the race” and quotes Football Insider journalist Pete O’Rourke saying the idea of Nunez returning to Anfield is “a bit of a pie in the sky.” The same report says Fabrizio Romano has also played down the talk, writing that sources close to the striker say there is “nothing ongoing” with Liverpool.

Central Figures

Darwin Nunez is the player at the centre of the story: a Uruguayan forward, formerly of Liverpool, now tied to Al-Hilal but reportedly available after a difficult season in Saudi Arabia. Sources differ on his age, with several reports calling him 26 or 27, so the safer point is his career stage: he is supposed to be in peak forward years, not stuck outside a domestic squad.

John Barnes, the former Liverpool player, frames the football question sharply. Speaking to GOAL through Yahoo Sports Canada, he argued that any Nunez return would depend on whether new Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola actually wants that kind of forward.

Not if Iraola doesn't want to play in that way.

Andoni Iraola is the key Liverpool figure in these reports. Yahoo Sports Canada quotes Barnes saying Liverpool cannot live on the Jurgen Klopp legacy and must back the new manager’s style, whether it is slow, quick, chaotic or more controlled. That matters because Nunez’s best Liverpool moments came from disruption and direct running, not tidy possession football.

Ruben Amorim is the Milan figure to watch. SempreMilan reports Amorim is evaluating the AC Milan squad after being hired last week and wants a new striker. MilanVibes, cited by SempreMilan and Anfield Watch, says contact has already been made with Nunez’s camp.

The Data

The numbers show why this story is complicated rather than simple. Nunez cost Liverpool £64 million from Benfica, later moved to Al-Hilal in reports ranging from an initial £46 million to around €50 million plus bonuses, and is said by SempreMilan to earn around €2 million per month. Anfield Watch also describes his Al-Hilal deal as worth £400,000 per week.

Those figures explain Milan’s problem. A permanent deal at a much lower fee could give Milan room to shape a salary offer, especially if Rafael Leao were to leave. The other route mentioned is a loan with Al-Hilal paying part of the wages, but SempreMilan calls that highly unlikely.

Domestic squad

The registered group of players eligible for league matches. Reports say Nunez was dropped from Al-Hilal’s domestic squad.

Mutual consent

A contract exit where club and player agree to end the deal, potentially making the player available without a normal transfer fee.

Loan deal

A temporary move where the parent club keeps the player’s contract while another club uses him for a set period.

What This Means

For Liverpool supporters in Canada, the headline is familiar but the decision is more sober: nostalgia alone does not build a forward line. Barnes’ point cuts through the noise. If Iraola wants a cleaner, more controlled attack, Nunez may not fit. If he wants speed, pressing and unpredictability, the argument becomes stronger — but only if Nunez is fit enough to handle the role.

For Milan, the appeal is obvious: Nunez is a high-energy striker with major-club experience and a desire, according to SempreMilan, to play in Italy. The barrier is just as clear. His salary sits outside normal Italian limits unless Al-Hilal, Nunez, or Milan make a major financial concession.

The broader lesson is about timing. A player can be available, talented and still difficult to sign if wages, fitness and tactical fit do not line up. That is why Newcastle, Chelsea, Milan and Liverpool links can all appear in the same news cycle without any one move being close.

What to Expect

The next confirmed setting is the summer transfer window, with Nunez also visible at the 2026 World Cup. Reports say Milan have made contact, Liverpool are not currently pushing, and Premier League interest still exists. The most important unresolved details are whether Al-Hilal will terminate or reduce the cost of his deal, how much salary Nunez would accept, and which club is prepared to build a recovery plan around him.

If Newcastle interest grows, GiveMeSport notes that a Premier League return could quickly create a Liverpool reunion on the pitch, with Liverpool facing Newcastle in the opening match of the new season. That would turn a transfer rumour into a pretty spicy football storyline for Canadian viewers watching early-season Premier League coverage.