Stan Collymore has branded Darwin Nunez a ‘massive disappointment’ and insists he is good enough to play for Liverpool. However, the former Reds record signing thinks the Uruguayan could be a good signing for Newcastle United, and advised the Magpies to sign the striker in part-exchange for Alexander Isak.
Nunez joined Liverpool in a deal worth up to a club-record £85m from Benfica in the summer of 2022, but has endured an up and down three seasons at Anfield.
Returning 40 goals and 22 assists from 136 appearances, he has found starting opportunities limited following Arne Slot’s arrival as head coach.
READ MORE: Arda Guler hits back at Dominik Szoboszlai as war of words with Liverpool man escalates
READ MORE: Dominik Szoboszlai mocks Real Madrid man as Liverpool defender axed from team
Making 40 appearances under the Dutchman, 17 have come from the start with only eight of those coming in the Premier League. Meanwhile, he has only scored seven times all season.
In contrast, Isak has been one of the stars of the campaign, scoring 23 goals for Newcastle in all competitions including the would-be winner against Liverpool in this month’s League Cup final.
The Reds are one of a number of sides who have been linked with a summer move for the Sweden international, but there is no guarantee that he will be allowed to leave St. James’ Park. However, Nunez is expected to leave Liverpool after an underwhelming campaign.
Collymore, who joined the Reds for a then club-record £8.5m fee from Nottingham Forest in 1995, has backed his former club to sign Isak. And he has also had his say on Nunez’s struggles, conceding he is just not up to scratch.
“I think the Alexander Isak to Liverpool rumours are not going to go away anytime soon, and Newcastle may need to sell because of FFP – especially if they do not qualify for the Champions League,” he wrote in his column for Caught Offside. “And I think Isak would do very well at Liverpool, and it could be one to watch.
“Darwin Nunez arrived at Liverpool as a very confident player, and now he looks too robotic – and that is probably because of the pressure that he is under at Anfield, which is a complete kettle of fish compared to what he experienced at Benfica.
“He just does not look confident, composed or relaxed, even if his goal output is not as bad as many people make it out to be. And the longer that this pressure remains, the harder it will become for him, and it has already started to affect his decision-making on the pitch, and especially in front of goal.
“Nunez has definitely been affected by his Liverpool experience, and I think that he should leave – simply put, he is not up to the standards needed at Liverpool, which can be very unforgiving.
“My record at Liverpool is often looked down upon, and I had 50 goal contributions in 89 appearances! And the problem for Nunez is that he is being compared against the great Liverpool strikers, such as Ian Rush, Fernando Torres, Luis Suarez, Michael Owen… and of course, he is a massive disappointment when lined up against them.
“Isak would be a massive upgrade on Nunez. His all-round play is what Liverpool need in a striker, and in my opinion, I think it could benefit Newcastle to take Nunez.
“There is certainly a player in there, but he is not someone that can handle a player for a club like Liverpool that brings so much scrutiny and pressure. He would be a really good fit at Newcastle, and their supporters would love him.
“Newcastle are a really big club, so it would not feel like a massive step down for Nunez, but the important thing is that the pressure would not be as telling.
“And I think Eddie Howe, who I think will become England manager in the future, can make Nunez into the player that many thought he would become at Liverpool.
“Whatever happens, I think Nunez will leave Liverpool in the summer, but it would not surprise me if he went to Newcastle with Isak going in the opposite direction as the two clubs could reach an amicable agreement when considering their respective FFP situations.”
