07 September 2023 , 12:30
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The undoubted highlight of Liverpool's season so far has been the sight of Darwin Nunez wheeling away in celebration at St. James' Park after his brace secured an incredible smash-and-grab 2-1 win.
However, if some of the key figures within the Anfield hierarchy had got their way, it wouldn't have happened at all, as new reports surface suggesting Liverpool weighed up the idea of parting ways with Nunez as part of a swap deal for Atletico Madrid's Joao Felix.
The Portugal international spent the second half of last season in the Premier League during his six-month spell with Chelsea, but it was a deal that left both parties unsatisfied. The Blues will feel like they missed out given Felix was red-carded on his debut and therefore missed a hefty chunk of games through suspension, while the player is likely to feel let down by the standard at Stamford Bridge last term.
Those running the show at Liverpool clearly felt they had seen enough of Felix to gamble and according to Mundo Deportivo, were willing to ship off Nunez to the Wanda Metropolitano in exchange for a former Golden Boy winner in return. The only reason the deal didn't play out as the Reds are alleged to have hoped is because Felix himself was holding out for a move to Barcelona.
Such was his desperation to join Xavi's side at the Camp Nou, Felix is believed to have snubbed interest from not only Liverpool but fellow Premier League duo Manchester United and Aston Villa. The former Benfica man eventually got his wish and joined Barcelona at the tail-end of the transfer window.
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The move to Catalonia does not include any sort of obligation or option to buy clause, such is the precarious financial position the Spanish giants find themselves in. As for Nunez, he of course remains in the red half of Merseyside, where he has enjoyed a positive start to the season.
However, if he wants to establish himself as one of the first names on the Liverpool team sheet regularly, Nunez may want to follow the advice issued by boss Jurgen Klopp earlier this summer before the season had begun.
HAVE YOUR SAY!Would Liverpool have made a mistake by swapping Nunez for Felix? Comment below
Joao Felix was pitched as an idea by the Liverpool hierarchy (Pressinphoto/REX/Shutterstock)"The ticket into the team will be the readiness to defend," Klopp said in a press conference while reflecting on Nunez's first season at the club. "I’ve never heard about a team being really successful with sloppy defending. It doesn’t happen.
"He was good, you can see he’s a handful, speed, typical goal scorer being there, smelling it and finishing it off. It’s the same for Darwin and all the other strikers. I know all about the quality they have and they need to do both – defend and be influential in all offensive situations."
Nunez netted nine league goals last campaign and will be out to improve on that tally and hit double figures this time around. With that being said, as Klopp has made clear, he can't neglect his defensive responsibilities either.