Jurgen Klopp addresses Darwin Nunez future amid Barcelona links to Jorge Mendes client | OneFootball

Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez remains a marmite player at Anfield, but his recent erasure of the Reds from his Instagram account, and a journey to Barcelona, where Ronald Araujo posted a photo with him, have sparked exit speculation.

Reports in the Catalan capital claim that Nunez would prioritise a move to Barcelona, the Blaugrana have him on their shortlist to strengthen their frontline, and that agent Jorge Mendes, who has strong links to President Joan Laporta, is keen to move him from this summer. All of these links hinge on the hypothetical exit of Robert Lewandowski though.

However Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has moved to dampen talk of an exit for the Uruguayan, as covered by EOTK.

“There is no speculation. That must be external speculation. It’s just a situation we are in, Darwin was definitely not happy missing that chance (v Tottenham). He was unlucky in so many situations where he is doing everything right and ball still doesn’t go in.”

“That’s really tough for a young man and he’s going through it right now. Everybody has to go through this. You help him if you can but it’s part of a footballer’s career. His problem is he is that good he is constantly in those moments – if he wasn’t, then he wouldn’t be.”

Lewandowski’s huge wages and age mean that the Blaugrana are likely to be open to a departure for the Polish striker. However their ability to spend on a replacement will be limited in all likelihood, even if he did accept an exit, and Liverpool would in all probability require a large chunk of the €85m they spent on Nunez back. However Lewandowski has been adamant he will not leave at any rate.