Liverpool striker Darwin Núñez has sparked fresh speculation about his future at the club after deleting nearly all Liverpool-related posts from his Instagram account following the team's 4-2 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday. The Uruguayan's actions, coupled with his on-field struggles and recent transfer rumors, have fueled discussions about a potential summer exit from Anfield.
Núñez, who joined Liverpool in June 2022 for an initial fee of $80.6m (£64.1m/€74.8m) that could rise to $107m (£85m/€99m) with add-ons, has been under scrutiny this season due to his lack of precision in the final third. The 24-year-old has been caught offside 32 times in the Premier League, more than any other player, and has missed the second-highest number of big chances (27).
In his most recent outing against Tottenham, Núñez came on as a substitute and was first flagged offside before squandering a one-on-one opportunity. Following the match, the striker was seen storming down the Anfield tunnel, failing to acknowledge the jubilant Liverpool fans who were reveling in the occasion of Jürgen Klopp's penultimate home game in charge.
Núñez's Instagram clear-out has left only one Liverpool-related post on his account, a snapshot of him at the AXA Training Centre following his 2022 signing. All other posts featuring the striker in a Liverpool kit have been removed, while his Benfica and Uruguay snaps remain untouched.
The recent developments have coincided with reports from Spain suggesting that Barcelona could be interested in the striker. News outlet Sport claims that Núñez is on the Catalan club's radar as they search for a long-term heir to Robert Lewandowski.
Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp recently addressed the goal-scoring struggles of Núñez and fellow striker Mohamed Salah, stating, "It's tricky. Strikers have to go through these things. That's how it is. That's a striker's life. A goalkeeper's life is make 500 saves, then one howler - and everybody talks about this. A striker's life is you score all the time, then you don't score for a while and then everybody asks why you don't score."
Klopp emphasized the importance of creating chances and getting into the right positions to finish off situations, acknowledging that the process of a striker getting back to their best can be challenging.
Liverpool supporters have been divided in their reactions to Núñez's recent actions, with some believing they point towards a summer transfer away from the club, while others have criticized the striker's emotional response and called for him to "grow up."
One fan on X, formerly known as Twitter, commented, "I don't get it, is he annoyed that he hasn't started a few games or is he annoyed that some people have been critical. Either way he needs to grow up."
Another supporter added, "Just shows wat an emotional guy he is and this is the problem when he's on the pitch . His emotions get the better of him , he's never relaxed . If he is to stay then the new manager needs to address this mentality."
As the summer transfer window approaches, the speculation surrounding Darwin Núñez's future at Liverpool is likely to intensify. The striker's recent actions on and off the pitch have raised questions about his happiness and commitment to the club, and it remains to be seen whether he will be a part of Liverpool's plans for the upcoming season under a new manager.
