Darwin Núñez's Transfer Twist: From Trabzonspor to Al Diriyah
Darwin Núñez’s Turkish reunion with Mohamed Salah has been thrown off course at the last moment, with Saudi Pro League side Al Diriyah swooping in to hijack his proposed move to Trabzonspor.
What looked like a done deal is suddenly heading in a very different direction.
From Austria to Turkiye… then a sharp turn
On the final day of Al Hilal’s training camp in Austria, Darwin Núñez was conspicuously absent from the squad. Journalist Sacha Tovalieri reported that the striker had been left out as he prepared to travel to Turkiye, where a loan switch to Trabzonspor awaited.
The plan was simple: fly out, complete the formalities, and reunite with Mohamed Salah, his former Liverpool teammate, under the fanatical gaze of a club that had just made the Egyptian the highest-paid player in Turkiye.
Then the phone rang.
Al Diriyah, another Saudi Pro League club, entered the picture and, according to reports, opened talks with Al Hilal over a loan deal of their own. Their proposal has now moved to the front of the queue, with Núñez expected to head there instead of Trabzonspor.
For Trabzonspor, who had already imagined Salah and Núñez leading the line together, it’s a brutal late twist.
Salah’s star rises in Turkiye
Salah’s arrival at Trabzonspor had already set the tone for a new era. His unveiling drew a rapturous reception, a statement signing for both club and league. He debuted last weekend, coming off the bench in a 1-1 draw with Kasimpasa.
He has walked into a dressing room packed with familiar Premier League and European faces. Paul Onuachu, once of Southampton, leads the line. Andre Onana, the former Manchester United goalkeeper, stands behind them. A front line of Salah and Núñez would have added another layer of firepower and narrative.
Instead, Salah may have to carry the attacking burden without the Uruguayan alongside him.
From Liverpool to Al Hilal – and the knock-on effect
Núñez left Liverpool last year for around $62 million (£46 million), three years after his big-money arrival from Benfica. His departure triggered a major reshaping of Liverpool’s forward line.
The club moved aggressively, bringing in Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike last summer. On paper, it was a bold reset. On the pitch, neither has fully exploded yet at Anfield.
Isak, signed for around $169 million (£125 million), now faces a defining season. With Ekitike sidelined for several more months, the Swede stands as Liverpool’s only fit, natural No. 9.
That reality has not gone unnoticed.
Liverpool’s striker puzzle
European football expert Julian Laurens summed up the situation this week, underlining the precarious balance in Liverpool’s attack.
“I still think that until Ekitike comes back from injury — it’s a long one, we’re not sure exactly when it will be — they probably need a back-up to Isak, especially if Cody Gakpo goes,” he said.
“You’re only left really with Isak as your nine. Ok, you could look at [Federico] Chiesa, you could look at maybe other options like a [Dominik] Szoboszlai as a false nine, or Curtis Jones as a false nine.
“But I still think they would need a backup striker there until Ekitike comes back. It could be a loan, it could be like the [Ronald] Araujo deal they did for the defense.
“Then also that midfield needs a bit of a rebuild, especially for the way Iraola wants to play, very different to Arne Slot. I’m not sure right now this midfield is exactly what he would want.”
So while Núñez’s immediate future looks set to stay in Saudi Arabia rather than veering towards Turkiye, his movements still echo back to Anfield. One striker’s diverted flight leaves another club’s attack exposed — and a fanbase wondering how much more surgery this Liverpool squad still needs before the season truly bites.
