Napoli want Darwin Núñez, and they’re not hiding it. The Serie A champions have officially opened talks with Liverpool to try and bring the Uruguayan striker to Italy this summer. According to reports from the Italian media, the offer is already on the table, around £43 million up front, plus another £4.3 million in potential bonuses. It’s a move that signals more than just ambition. Under Antonio Conte, Napoli don’t want to just hold onto the league title, they want to fight toe-to-toe with Europe’s best, without relying on Lukaku’s mood swings or dealing with an attack full of obvious gaps.
For Núñez, it feels like the writing’s on the wall. Once the most expensive signing in Liverpool’s history — costing them £85 million — the Uruguayan is now on the outside looking in under new manager Arne Slot. He’s been used sparingly, reduced to a backup role in a team that’s clearly transitioning. Last season, he scored just five goals and added three assists in the Premier League, starting only eight matches. It’s not the kind of return you expect from a player brought in to lead the line.
Conte wants fewer gambles, more certainty
Napoli’s thinking is pretty straightforward. They want to stop leaning so heavily on Lukaku, and they see Núñez as someone who could step in and lead the attack. Conte, known for being demanding and direct, isn’t interested in taking chances when it comes to finishing. He wants players who deliver. In that sense, signing Núñez isn’t just a tactical decision, it’s a statement of intent. Conte knows how hard it is to win Serie A, but doing that while trying to go deep in the Champions League takes a level of sharpness and consistency that Napoli lacked last season.
And Darwin wouldn’t be the only Premier League face in the dressing room. Napoli are quietly becoming a serious destination for players leaving England. They’ve already brought in Kevin De Bruyne, added a solid Scottish duo with Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour, and are keeping tabs on Rasmus Højlund and Trevoh Chalobah. This isn’t just about one signing. It’s part of a bigger shift.
The goal is to build a team that’s not just talented, but grown-up, a squad that can play with the same intensity on rainy nights in Italy as they do under the lights of Europe. Núñez, even with all the doubts surrounding him in England, is still seen by many as a forward with the strength, speed, and skill to lead a top team.
Liverpool know it’s a loss, but they’ve made peace with it
From Liverpool’s side, it’s not a move they’re shouting about, but it’s not one they’re fighting either. They’ve accepted they won’t recoup the £85 million they paid in 2022, but they want to limit the damage. According to journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, the asking price sits at around £43.2 million, plus bonuses. That’s nearly half what they originally spent, but considering his numbers and role in the squad, it might be the cleanest way to move forward.