‘I’m really not convinced’: Tim Sherwood says he’s not sure £70m Liverpool player is good enough
For a brief moment, it looked as though Darwin Nunez was going to make this season his at Liverpool.
His heroic brace against Newcastle earlier this season looked like the perfect launching pad to make his name at Anfield, and he did kick on slightly afterwards.
However, he’s. now gone 10 games without a goal, and questions are starting to be asked once again.
Speaking on Premier League Productions, Tim Sherwood has been discussing Nunez after the Manchester United game on Sunday, and he says that he’s really not convinced that Nunez is good enough to be Liverpool’s number nine.
Nunez not good enough
Sherwood shared what he thinks of the Uruguayan.
“Normally Mo Salah is a prolific scorer in this fixture especially, but just that wee bit of composure. Darwin Nunez I’m really not convinced about, I don’t think he’s of the quality to be a number nine for Liverpool, he’s not really a team man for me, no rotation,” Sherwood said.
Plenty to prove
There is a lot to like about Darwin Nunez as a footballer, but it has to be said that he has lots to prove.
At £70m, Liverpool would have every right to expect more from Nunez. No goals in his last 10 games is poor to say the least, and that lack of killer instinct in front of goal has been an ongoing problem.
For a long time, we’ve chalked it down to inexperience and claimed that Jurgen Klopp will be able to teach him how to improve that area of his game, but after 18 months in England, we have to start wondering whether or not this is a problem that has a solution.
Nunez needs to improve, otherwise, he will never truly live up to his pricetag.
The raw attributes are there, and we’re not willing to write Nunez off just yet.
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If Liverpool submit €20m bid, they can complete important January signing
Liverpool could solve their centre-back woes with a move to sign Sao Paolo starlet Lucas Beraldo in the January transfer window.
It was devastating to learn of Joel Matip’s ACL injury especially given his contract expires at the end of the season.
Jurgen Klopp may now move to sign a centre-back when the winter window opens in less than two weeks with Lucas Beraldo a potential option for the German.
According to Italian news outlet Tutto Juve, Liverpool, Arsenal and Juventus are all keen on signing him.
Zenit St. Petersburg had an €18 million offer rejected as Sao Paulo want €20 million. Leicester City are expected to make a bid that matches their demands.
If Liverpool make an offer that satisfies the Brazilian club, they could gazump Leicester and ensure they find a solution to the diminished depth at centre-back.
Their are question marks over Beraldo’s readiness for a move to the Premier League given he’s only 20 and plays in Brazil but, by all accounts, he’s a very talented young player and has made an impression on the Reds’ scouts.
Reports last month suggested Liverpool are in pole position to reach an agreement with Sao Paulo but with the January window now days away, a formal approach has yet to materialise.
Liverpool could accelerate plans to sign €70m monster after “very advanced” summer talks
Liverpool want to beat Premier League rivals to sign Bayer Leverkusen centre-back Piero Hincapie after showing serious interest in the summer transfer window.
Joel Matip’s crushing ACL injury and resulting surgery means he will not play another game this season.
His contract expiring at the end of the campaign also means he may have played his last game for the Reds.
Schalke released him as a free agent in 2016 and since then, he has been a wonderful player for Liverpool even though his injury misfortune has prevented him from reaching his full potential.
While the Jurgen Klopp already had plans to replace the veteran defender, those may now be accelerated.
Transfer latest as Liverpool aim to beat Man City to Hincapie
Earlier this week, German transfer guru Florian Plettenberg reported that Bayer Leverkusen defender Piero Hincapie is “not happy” with his role at Bayer Leverkusen.
Now, Caught Offside reports that Liverpool aim to “move ahead of Chelsea and Manchester City” in the race to secure his signature in transfer windows to come.
Jurgen Klopp is reportedly a “big fan” of the 21-year-old and Liverpool are “showing the strongest interest so far”.
Hincapie is under contract until 2027 and Leverkusen want to keep him for at least another year, however, his lack of game time could force the issue.
It will reportedly cost at least €70 million (£60m) to convince Xabi Alonso’s side to release him.
Liverpool were reportedly in “advanced” talks to sign Hincapie in the summer and could now return to sign the Ecuadorian centre-back to deal with Matip’s injury-enforced absence.
Liverpool also interested in Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong
Hincapie is not the only Leverkusen player attracting interest with Liverpool also keen on 20-year-old Florian Wirtz and 23-year-old Jeremie Frimpong.
Reports in late November suggested Liverpool are preparing a €90 million (£78M) bid for Wirtz although Daily Mail reporter Lewis Steele rubbished these claims.
He said: “There’s no concrete interest yet in Florian Wirtz but that doesn’t mean he is not on Liverpool’s radar. They look at a lot of players.”
Frimpong is also of interest, according to depor.com, who claimed last month that Liverpool and Chelsea “have decided to enter the bidding.”
Time will tell if this claim is worth its weight in gold.
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