Darwin Nunez could be set for Premier League return after losing starting spot to Karim Benzema 

If at first you don’t succeed, try your luck in Saudi Arabia before returning for a redemption tour. It’s not the most poetic of slogans, but it could be Uruguayan target man Darwin Nuñez´s path after reports claim he´s close to coming back to the Premier League.

Benzema pushing Nuñez out the door?

The Uruguayan left Anfield after three years in which he failed to live up to expectations with the Reds. He set off to greener pastures as Liverpool agreed to a €53 million deal to send him to Saudi Arabia´s Al-Hilal. The club signed him to a three year deal worth more than €15 million a season, but that deal could be getting cut short after recent transfer news at Al-Hilal.

The deal was made after Nuñez´s disappointing campaign last year in which he scored just 5 goals and passed for two assists in the title winning season for Liverpool. The squad went through a massive make over during the summer and Nuñez was dealt to Al-Hilal. Now his spot in the XI has been jeopardized with the arrival of Karim Benzema who forced his way out of Al-Ittihad FC and signed with Al-Hilal in January.

The Balon d´Or winner has played three matches for his new club scoring a hat trick in his debut against Al Okhdood, and now it seems that he is destined to be named the full time striker. That will leave Nunez, who has played just two matches since Benzema´s debut, on the outside looking in.

Chelsea rumored to be favs to land Nuñez

Less than 12 months after the transfer to the Middle East, the Uruguayan is pondering a return to the Premier League. Chelsea, Newcastle United and Tottenham are all rumored to be lining up for a chance to sign the former Benfica standout, and Al-Hilal is apparently ready to listen to offers after splashing big cash for the strikers services.

Nuñez grew up in the Peñarol academy in Uruguay before setting sights for Europe. He played one year in the second division in Spain with Almeria, scoring 16 goals in 32 matches played. Benfica would bring him aboard and he caught the attention of giants around the continent scoring 26 goals in 28 matches in the Liga Portugal. Liverpool came calling not long after, and now he could be on a collision course with his former club should he return to the Premier League.

When and where Nuñez lands could depend on this summer’s World Cup, but the Uruguayan hasn’t played for his country since September when Uruguay took on Chile. Before that, he was suspended five matches for his role in an altercation with fans during Uruguay´s 1-0 loss to Columbia in the 2024 Copa America. The former Liverpool man is in for an interesting summer, who could be playing back in the U.K. in a few months time.

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