In hindsight, Liverpool’s summer 2022 transfer business has not aged well.
The Reds parted with an initial £64m, rising to a potential £85m with add-ons, to sign Darwin Nunez from Benfica, but despite establishing himself as a firm fan-favourite, the jury is still out on the Uruguayan. While he scored a respectable 15 goals in his maiden season in England, concerns about his limited grasp of English, subsequent understanding of Jurgen Klopp’s demands, and how suited he actually is to start for Liverpool continue.
Cody Gakpo’s seamless transition into a long-term replacement for Roberto Firmino following his mid-season arrival from PSV Eindhoven has only prompted further scrutiny on Nunez, even if there remains a quietly confident expectation that his second season at Anfield will be more fruitful than his first. Yet despite such murmurings, the striker remains the only ‘success story’ from 12 months ago.
