Osimhen Saudi REJECTION opens door for Liverpool deal

One of Liverpool’s key transfer priorities ahead of the summer transfer window was reported to be a new striker. And the club have been linked with several top names - including Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike and Joao Pedro.

It remains to be seen which No9 ends up arriving through the gates this summer - with transfer focus currently on getting deals over the line for Milos Kerkez and Florian Wirtz.

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A new striker isn’t going to come cheap however. Newcastle were seeking up to £150m for Isak while £84m is the quoted asking price for Ekitike.

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With up to £126m or thereabouts going on Wirtz - and another £40m to £45m on Kerkez - Liverpool are going to have to raise funds for a new forward.

Darwin Nunez future plunged into doubt

That’s why Darwin Nunez’s future is currently in so much doubt. The 25-year-old has only started ONE Premier League for the Reds in 2025 and his Anfield career looks all but over.

If Liverpool get the right bid for the Uruguayan from any one of his reported suitors then it’s likely he will be on his way. Having spent up to £85m on the forward back in 2022, the club will be seeking to recoup as much of that sum as possible.

Interest from Saudi Arabia would therefore be welcomed this summer - following strong interest in January from both Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr.

Neither ultimately ended up paying the asking price and with time running out for Liverpool to find a replacement, no deal was done. As the summer approached, talk again turned to Saudi suitors.

Osimhen rejects Al-Hilal

However, hopes that Liverpool could cash in on Nunez by selling him to Al-Hilal faded. Victor Osimhen - also a reported Liverpool striker target - looked destined to join Simone Inzaghi for the Saudi giants ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup.

But now it’s been reported that the Nigerian hitman has REJECTED Al-Hilal - leaving the door open for another big-name forward to arrive.

With Osimhen out of the picture, it opens the door for Al-Hilal to once again commence negotiations with Richard Hughes for Nunez.

Al-Hilal in a race against time

“Victor Osimhen's Al-Hilal rejection makes his future an open race,” reports Ben Jacobs on X. “European suitors had felt for months that Saudi was his most likely destination.

“Al-Hilal made multiple offers, and Simone Inzaghi was even part of the pitch. However, no green light despite a €75m package in place with Napoli.”

This could move quickly with a June 10 deadline for signings to be registered in time for the Club World Cup.

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Otherwise, Nunez could be in transfer limbo while Al-Hilal plot their next move ahead of the knockout stages of the CWC - should they qualify - when a new transfer window opens.