Liverpool forward Darwin Núñez has been linked with a move away from the club. It is possible that he may eventually succeed Jürgen Klopp’s former favorite.
Jürgen Klopp has worked with some outstanding players over the years. During his tenure at Liverpool, he has been surrounded by some of the game’s top names.
After all, you don’t score 97 and 99 points in successive Premier League seasons, much alone win the Champions League, unless you have some really exceptional quality. Alisson, Virgil van Dijk, and, of course, Mohamed Salah have all been among the best in their positions at different times, as has Trent Alexander-Arnold.
The ‘Liverpool 2.0’ side he leaves behind is brimming with potential. Klopp indicated that he will closely monitor Harvey Elliott’s progress even after stepping down as manager; there is a sense that Alexander-Arnold’s best is yet to come, and there are plenty of players who have the potential to achieve true greatness in the game.
Darwin Núñez may be among them. That seems like an outrageous claim right now, but few would have even considered it a few months ago. The notoriously streaky Uruguayan still has a lot of promise, which Liverpool hopes to completely realize.
However, Núñez has been the subject of links away recently. According to reports, Barcelona may make a summer transfer move, giving Liverpool something to think about.
If Núñez makes the move, he may replace a player that Klopp once called the best he ever worked with. However, this is still a distant possibility. Interestingly, this dates back to his time at Borussia Dortmund.
Robert Lewandowski led much of Klopp’s success in Germany, which includes back-to-back Bundesliga crowns and a Champions League final. The Pole finally moved to Bayern Munich, a well-trodden path, but first spent four years with Borussia Dortmund during Klopp’s prime.
In 2021, Klopp admitted that Lewandowski was a favorite. He was asked to select the best player he has ever coached.
“Robert Lewandowski,” Klopp replied when Lothar Matthäus posed the question, according to the Bundesliga website. “It would be unfair to say that about any other player but Lewy.”
“What he made out of his potential, how he pushed himself to become the player he is today, that’s extraordinary.”
After becoming a legend at Bayern Munich, the striker moved to Barcelona in 2022. That shift has been partly successful, with goals still somewhat free-flowing, although Lewandowski will turn 36 this summer. If Núñez arrives, he will be the long-term succession plan.
Despite working under Klopp for two years, Núñez was not a fan favorite. He has spent the past several weeks of the manager’s stint at Anfield as a substitute, with Cody Gakpo starting against Tottenham. However, at Barcelona, he would be expected to fill some really large boots.
