Former Chelsea forward snubbed Liverpool approach for shock Darwin Nunez swap deal
A shock report has claimed Liverpool tried to swap Darwin Nunez for Joao Felix in the summer transfer window.
The Portuguese youngster, who Atletico Madrid paid £113million for in 2019, spent the second half of last season at Chelsea. Felix proved to be a rare bright spark in an otherwise disastrous campaign for the Blues but failed to persuade the Stamford Bridge hierarchy to secure a permanent deal.
A frosty relationship with Diego Simeone has resulted in the forward being sent out on loan to Barcelona for the rest of the season. A once-promising career, with European heavyweights lining up to sign Felix four years ago, is now at risk of fading into obscurity should his move to Catalonia fail.
As far as Nunez is concerned, Liverpool forked out a club-record fee to sign the striker last year. Jurgen Klopp beat the likes of Real Madrid and Newcastle United to buy the Uruguayan, who had bagged a staggering 34 goals in 41 goals for Benfica the previous season.
However, a difficult debut campaign for the Reds saw Nunez struggle to adapt to Klopp’s system. Liverpool had not played with an out-and-out striker for several years and the 24-year-old soon found himself used as a bit-part player.
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An eye-catching start to his second season offers more promise, with Nunez breaking Newcastle fans' hearts with a late double at St. James' Park last month. While selling their marquee arrival after one underwhelming campaign may have seemed harsh, a report from Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo has claimed that is exactly what Liverpool tried to do.
The piece claims Anfield chiefs offered Nunez as bait in a potential swap deal for Felix — but the
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