Liverpool ‘prepare’ bid for England international as Arne Slot looks to upgrade Darwnin Nunez: report

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Liverpool are in the market for a replacement for under-firing Darwin Nunez and Arne Slot has already identified a player who would be an ideal suitor

Incoming Liverpool manager Arne Slot of Feyenoord Rotterdam looks on prior to the Dutch Eredivisie match between Feyenoord and Go Ahead Eagles at Feyenoord Stadium on May 14, 2023 in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Incoming Liverpool manager Arne Slot sees Ollie Watkins as the ideal buy (Image credit: NESimages/Geert van Erven/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)

Liverpool are preparing to bid for Aston Villa star Ollie Watkins in quest to upgrade Darwin Nunez, according to reports. 

Though the striker recently extended his contract with Villa, Arne Slot is hopeful of landing the Premier League forward who scored 27 goals across all competitions last season.

Watkins helped Villa secure a Champions League spot and was widely lauded as one of the best players of the season. 

Ollie Watkins celebrates an Aston Villa goal

Ollie Watkins is the man in demand following his spellbinding season with Aston Villa (Image credit: Getty Images)

But now Liverpool are keen to bring him to Anfield, seeing him as an ideal replacement for the underperforming Darwin Nunez, reports The Mirror.

Nunez has faced criticism for his finishing, scoring just 11 goals during the season, as well as missing notable chances throughout. 

Now it's thought new Reds head coach Slot has identified Watkins as a key target as the Dutchman looks to strengthen the team's attacking options ahead of the new campaign. 

Darwin Nunez gestures during Liverpool's 0-0 draw against Manchester United at Anfield in December 2023.

Darwin Nunez failed to score the goals for Liverpool (Image credit: Getty Images)

The 28-year-old joined Aston Villa from Brentford for a then club-record fee of £28 million - an amount very much justified given his season.

It’s thought that Villa would expect a significant profit should they decide to move the player on this summer transfer window.

Villa recently rejected Arsenal’s advances for Douglas Luiz and secured coach Unai Emery on a new five-year deal, but there are concerns that this upcoming window will be a real test for them.

Liverpool are in need to bolster their attacking options. In addition to Nunez, Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz have had a capricious season, while there are question marks over Mohamed Salah’s long-term future amid rumours of a possible move to Saudi Arabia.

Unai Emery watches on

Unai Emery will be hoping to keep hold of his best talent (Image credit: Getty)

 Watkins, who is in line to play for England in the upcoming Euro 2024 competition, said after he signed fresh terms at Villa Park in October.

He said "It's definitely been a memorable week for me, one I'll never forget. I'm very grateful. I have a lot of good people around me and there's a lot of good people at the club. I'm so happy that a lot of people have been here on this journey with me."

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Jacque Talbot
Jacque Talbot

Jacque Talbot is a freelance football journalist who predominantly specialises in transfer stories and exclusives. He began his career in 2016 covering the world-renowned Sandbach United, of North West Counties fame, before earning a spot on the sports desks of national papers, where he bounced between several outlets such as Sportbible, the Express, Mirror, and Daily Star. An NCTJ graduate of the News Associates who swapped investigative journalism in the Costa del Sol for football reporting in Northern England, he first wrote for FourFourTwo in December 2023.