Fabrizio Romano provides MASSIVE Darwin Nunez to Napoli update

Liverpool are moving on to phase two of their summer transfer plans. Having secured Jeremie Frimpong, Florian Wirtz and Milos Kerkez - as well as confirming the permanent arrival of Giorgi Mamardashvili - the Reds now require sales.

Those incoming deals cost Liverpool a little under £200m and if ambitions of a new striker and a new centre-back are to come to fruition then outgoings are going to now be necessary.

READ MORE: Marc Guehi to Liverpool comes down to £25m

We’ve already seen Trent Alexander-Arnold, Caoimhin Kelleher and Nat Phillips depart on permanent deals and several more first-team squad members are under consideration for exits.

READ MORE: Liverpool told what offer it will take to convince Alexander Isak to join

Federico Chiesa and Harvey Elliott are among the attacking contingent who could leave. But perhaps the most transformative signing would be Darwin Nunez.

Napoli want Nunez

Signed from Benfica for a fee that could reach £85m back in 2022, Nunez would earn the club more than any other player deemed transferrable.

Liverpool turned down deals with Saudi Pro League sides in January due to a lack of viable alternatives but there are teams in the SPL still willing to pay around £70m for the Uruguayan.

The problem is that Nunez has got his eye on a move to Napoli and so far the Italian champions are not playing ball. Ideally, Antonio Conte’s side meet the asking price - which would then allow Liverpool to spend on a high-quality replacement.

Liverpool and Napoli still far apart

However, according to Fabrizio Romano, the deal is at a standstill, which could bring other teams back to the table eventually.

“There could be many signings for Liverpool this summer, but also for Liverpool the situation is very clear – they also need some outgoings,” he wrote in Caught Offside.

“So don’t forget about the situation of Darwin Nunez, because there is interest from Napoli, but at the moment no agreement between club to club on the transfer fee.

“There is still a gap between Liverpool and Napoli and this is a significant gap as of today on the valuation of the player.

“Then let’s see what happens with more clubs in Europe and also in Saudi, who are also interested, because Darwin Nunez will be for sure one to watch in this summer’s transfer window.”

If Liverpool receive £70m for Nunez, then it could allow them to fund a deal for Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike or Victor Osimhen.

READ MORE: Deal close as Medical SET today

With the likes of Matheus Cunha, Liam Delap and Joao Pedro finding moves elsewhere, the market is becoming ever more constricted for new forward names.

Liverpool better hope there is a thaw in Napoli’s thinking before long.