Dietmar Hamann says Liverpool star could be ‘biggest transfer mistake in club’s history’

Former Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann believes Darwin Nunez could be the ‘biggest transfer mistake’ the club have made in their entire history.

Nunez joined Liverpool for a club-record fee of £85million back in 2022, with the ex-Benfica striker putting pen to paper on a six-year contract at Anfield.

But in between occasional flashes of brilliance, Nunez has badly struggled to live up to that price tag and managed a total of just five goals across the Reds’ Premier League title-winning campaign this term.

As a result, Nunez is deemed surplus to requirements on Merseyside – and the Uruguay international is expected to leave when the summer transfer window opens for business.

Reports emanating out of Spain last week claimed Nunez had held talks with Atletico Madrid and the a verbal agreed had been reached over a proposed switch to the Spanish capital.

Atleti are yet to negotiate a fee for Nunez, though, and the La Liga giants may have to fend off interest from the Saudi Pro League to capture the 25-year-old.

‘Is Darwin Nunez the biggest transfer mistake in Liverpool’s history? Maybe, it’s just part of the game,’ Hamann told Betting Lounge.

‘When you bring players in, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t.

‘People probably thought, myself included, if you bring somebody in for £85million, it guarantees you goals, but looking back it wasn’t money well spent.

‘Now you need to see how much you recoup. Maybe one of the Saudi clubs comes and you get your money back.’

‘The other thing is, we shouldn’t forget that he’s been part of a title winning side. He played his part as much as everybody else.’

Hamann says it is a ‘very good sign’ that Liverpool have still managed to be successful despite spending top dollar on an signing that has not worked.

‘He was part of the team. He contributed maybe not as much as others, but sometimes it’s easier to swallow when you bring a player in like him, when the team is still successful regardless,’ he added.

‘I think it’s a very good sign for the state Liverpool is in at the moment to bring in a forward in for a lot of money and he doesn’t score many goals, but you’re still winning.’

Liverpool have reportedly won the race to sign Bayer Leverkusen and Germany star Florian Wirtz this summer.

But the Reds are also believed to be in talks over a possible bid for Christopher Nkunku, despite the torrid time the Frenchman has endured at Chelsea.

‘You’ve got to feel for him because picked up a bad injury, he did his ligament when he came to Chelsea,’ Hamann said of Nkunku.

‘Obviously he’s a brilliant player. That’s why he’s been at the top level for some time. Injury can obviously play a part because he was just full of confidence before that.

‘I think he tried things which he never really thought they’re not going to come off and confidence is a big thing.

‘With Nkunku, if the knee doesn’t bother him, and obviously you’ve got to do a medical when you come to a club, I think he’s a player who can really go places if he goes somewhere else.’

According to Hamann, Nkunku is more than capable of scoring 25 goals a season if he finds a team that suits his strengths.

‘If he went to a club where he was the main man then he could score 25 goals a season. I think he could go places because he’s a fantastic player,’ the 2005 Champions League winner added.

‘From what I’ve seen in the Bundesliga the last few seasons, I’ve rarely seen a player that excited me more than him. It’s a shame it hasn’t worked out, as I said. The injury didn’t help.

‘It’ll be interesting to see what’s going to happen because I think he’s a fantastic player if you handle him the right way.’

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