Darwin Nunez to Arsenal: A deal so crazy it just might work

Robin Bairner

• 17 Mar 2025 08:35 GMT
• 5 min read

Analysis

Arsenal have been linked with a shock move for Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez.

The Uruguay international is set to be dumped by the Anfield club after another frustrating campaign, during which he has scored only seven goals across all competitions.

READ MORE: Arsenal sign the most rounded central midfielder in the world

Current ETV

Darwin Núñez

F (C), AM (L)

Liverpool

Darwin Núñez

F (C), AM (L)

Liverpool

€67.5M

ETV Range

€60.7M - €74.2M

View full profile

Arsenal are now “tracking” the former Benfica hitman, according to Fichajes, which claims that this interest could “translate into negotiations in the coming months”.

The Gunners’ lack of offensive power and depth has been evident this season as their title challenge has waned amid an injury crisis, and FootballTransfers believes that two No.9s will be added to Arteta’s group in the summer.

RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko is the top target, but could Nunez be the second reinforcement?

READ MORE: Man Utd receive Osimhen update as Isak to Arsenal heats up

Nunez a match for Havertz and Jesus

First, it's worthwhile pointing out that Nunez ticks two key boxes for Mikel Arteta: he’s got Premier League experience and at 25, his age profile matches that of a typical Arsenal signing.

In terms of quality, Nunez is considered to have the quality of a starter at Arsenal by data analytics firm SciSports, who put him a little above Leandro Trossard in terms of his current level.

He may lag Arsenal’s other centre-forwards in the eyes of the experts, but Gabriel Jesus is facing an uncertain future due to a serious injury, while Arteta’s plan for Kai Havertz next season is to move him into a deeper position.

There is no dramatic drop off. He has a goal or an assist every 134 minutes this term, which is better than Havertz (139) in this regard and equal to Jesus. And this, remember, is Darwin playing without confidence for a manager who clearly doesn’t rate him.

A smart fit

Arsenal are seen as a good fit for the South American in terms of his career.

SciSports give the Emirates side a Club Fit score of 76, which is based around various factors including potential development, game time, playing style and formation. Arteta’s side come behind Liverpool (80) and Aston Villa (78), but otherwise no team ranks higher than them as being an effective fit for Darwin.

Interestingly, the development score the striker gets at Arsenal is four stars, and this is a crucial point. Currently, there are areas of his play that need refined, but if he can be nurtured into becoming a more clinical finisher…

Liverpool fans, admittedly, have been grasping onto this hope since Darwin arrived full of energy from Benfica in a club-record deal that has seen the Reds pay €85 million for him. Arteta, as a fellow Spanish speaker, might be better placed to get his ideas across than either Jurgen Klopp or Arne Slot.

Certainly, an improvement is needed. Nunez is currently the second-worst performing striker from close shots in the Premier League this season, according to SciSports data, and given this is the area that Arsenal most need tidying up, this is a concern.

He gets into so many good areas, though, even a small development in his game, which may come from confidence alone, could see a dramatic improvement.

The deal breaker?

Price is likely to be a thorn issue. Darwin has an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €67.5m, which Arsenal will probably not stump up given they are also seeking to sign Sesko.

Liverpool, meanwhile, need to fight to recoup as much of their initial outlay on the player as possible. Equally, the Anfield club must accept that Darwin’s difficult three years at Anfield means that at some point they will simply need to cut their losses.

So Nunez to Arsenal is by no means a deal that is guaranteed to happen, but it’s a move that, if it does somehow progress, could benefit all parties.