Arne Slot's opinion on Darwin Nunez as Liverpool striker linked with mega transfer

Darwin Nunez has been linked with a move away from Liverpool after starting just one game this season, but Reds boss Arne Slot has already made his thoughts clear on the Uruguayan star

Darwin Nunez could be headed for the Liverpool exit door - despite Arne Slot insisting that the Uruguayan international will "get his chance".

Nunez has started just the one game under Slot this season and registered a single goal. While belief from the Anfield faithful in the club's record signing is still relatively unwavering, there have been cracks in Nunez's relationship with the club, which began to form last season as the star lost his place in the team under Jurgen Klopp.

However, according to The Sun, Nunez is now being courted by Barcelona. It's thought that the La Liga giants were going to make an approach for Manchester City's Erling Haaland, but it now seems they have switched their attention to the Liverpool striker.

Barcelona's interest could be welcomed as a lifeline for the 25-year-old with the striker's Anfield future now looking as uncertain as ever. Nunez has shown signs of brilliance during his time with the Reds but all too often has found himself on the receiving end of criticism for missing a glut of chances.

Nevertheless, Liverpool boss Slot has frequently said since his arrival at the club that the former Benfica star does feature in his long-term plans. Speaking ahead of a Premier League clash with Bournemouth, Slot claimed Nunez's hard work in training would result in minutes on the pitch.

Slot's motivational pitch clearly paid off as Nunez earned himself a starting berth for Liverpool's 3-0 victory, which was wrapped up by the forward scoring his first goal of the new campaign - and his first since April. The Dutchman has also frequently defended the towering forward, however he has conceded that he has fallen down the pecking order at Anfield.

"I don’t think it’s fair to say he only scored one [goal since April] because you also have to look at the playing time," Slot said in September.

"I think this was his third start of the season so I don’t look at it in the way you do and only focus on the individual. I think in the first hour we didn’t create lot of chances for him because we missed out on the last pass on a number of occasions. If we would have done better, that probably would have led to chances for him as well.

“There’s a lot of confidence in him. But there are two players for that position and I could even come up with more, who could play in that position. He’s in competition with Diogo, who’s done really well. But many games have to be played and there will be enough time to judge Darwin, if he improves and how he improves and if he can do special things for the club.”

Slot also defended his reasons for not starting Nunez on a regular basis, adding: “It’s always difficult because players, but also the media, only think you have confidence in a player if you play him.

“We have confidence in all of them, otherwise you don’t bring a player in if you’re 3-1 up half-an-hour before the end or last week against Nottingham Forest, he came on half-an-hour before the end."

The former Feyenoord manager believes Nunez needs to contribute to the cause as his team-mate Cody Gakpo has. Nunez lost his place to the Dutch international last season and has seen himself behind the 25-year-old again this season.

“Sometimes as a striker, you have a few games where you don’t score goals, then all of a sudden, you score a lot. So as long as he brings his work rate for the team, I’m 100 per cent convinced he will score. He will get his chance in the near future, we play a lot of games," said Slot.

"That's what he [Gakpo] did when he came in against AC Milan. You come in and work for the team and then as a result of that attackers score goals or get assists.

"That's what happened to Cody, but it will happen with Lucho [Luis Diaz], Mo [Salah] and Diogo [Jota] If you play in a team like Liverpool, you will always score your goals and get your assists."

Nunez's strange stint at Liverpool has resulted in some dramatic highs, such as his very late brace against Newcastle, which saw Liverpool wrestle victory from the jaws of defeat last season. Nunez also helped endear himself to the Kop with his double against bitter rivals Manchester United in their 7-0 humiliation of United back in his first season with the club.

However, on the downside, the No.9's erratic performances in front of goal meant tensions became frayed as the striker lost his place under Klopp towards the end of last season. Despite scoring 34 times for the Reds, Nunez was also the victim of online abuse, which resulted in the forward deleting all references to the club on his Instagram account.

The 25-year-old later referred to the unsavoury interactions on social media to Por la Jersey via ESPN Uruguay, saying: “From the moment you start playing and until you retire, there will always be someone who will criticise you. Whoever says that those negative comments do not affect them is lying, those negative comments that are directed towards you will always affect you."

Regardless of Slot's ongoing faith in Nunez, the Dutchman will be expecting results from his central striker that, so far, have not been forthcoming. With Barcelona's interest in the player rearing its head once again, the Liverpool head coach will have a big call to make on Nunez's Anfield future.

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