EXCLUSIVE: Liverpool have advantage in Julian Alvarez pursuit

Darwin Nunez could be pivotal for Liverpool this summer.

The No9 is set to depart Anfield at the end of the campaign after three seasons with the club. The 25-year-old has found playing time limited since the turn of the year, though he did play a part in the title success, scoring twice against Brentford and helping the Reds turn the game around against Southampton. The match against the Saints, in early March, was his last start for the Premier League champions.

Darwin was subject of interest from Saudi clubs in January, as exclusively revealed by Anfield Watch. Both Al Hilal and Al Nassr tried and failed to pry the Uruguay international away from Anfield. The player was open to the move and Liverpool would’ve sold had their valuation been met.

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The Reds rejected a verbal proposal of £70million.

Anfield Watch now understands that the former Benfica man could be sold for as little as £35million this summer. Atletico Madrid, however, are the only team with access to Darwin at this discounted rate.

As revealed in March, Diego Simeone is a huge fan of the 35-cap international.

And Liverpool are huge fans of Julian Alvarez.

The former Manchester City forward is viewed as someone who could be the perfect fit for Arne Slot.

He’s a facilitator and a goalscorer. The work rate is there. He’s a grafter and he can play a variety of roles across the forward line. With a full season in England now under his belt, Slot appreciates the need for a centre-forward who is comfortable receiving in tight spaces. A young Roberto Firmino would be the perfect solution. Alvarez is viewed as someone who fits that mould.

His experience in England is also a factor in all of this. He’d be able to hit the ground running.

Liverpool are prepared to be flexible with Darwin if it gives them favourable terms to bring Alvarez back to the Premier League. As shown with Joao Felix and Conor Gallagher last summer, the La Liga club are open to clever bookkeeping.

Alvarez is happy in the Spanish capital but if there’s any club that could tempt him to leave after just 12 months, it is Liverpool. The club are confident of that but have contingency plans in place for it if i doesn't pan out.

The Reds have three trump cards in Alexis Mac Allister, Gonzalo Siegrist and Fernando Troiani. The Argentine striker has a good relationship with the latter two, both South American scouts for Liverpool, while he’s good friends with his international teammate.

It is believed that the 25-year-old also feels he has unfinished business in the Premier League, having always been second fiddle to Erling Haaland at Manchester City. The Reds are open to making him their main man in attack. Spearheading the forward line for the Merseyside giants is believed to appeal to Alvarez.

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If Darwin turns down the riches of Saudi in favour of a move to Atletico, Liverpool could leverage this to land them the No9 they feel is perfect for the Slot project.