Darwin Núñez Set for Trabzonspor Move to Reunite with Salah

Darwin Núñez’s whirlwind European journey is about to take another sharp turn. Just a year after leaving Liverpool for Al‑Hilal in a £46m deal, the Uruguayan striker is now on the brink of a move to Trabzonspor – and a reunion with Mohamed Salah.

Twelve months ago, Liverpool were ripping up their squad. Núñez, once billed as the spearhead of a new‑look attack at Anfield, was moved on as part of a clear-out that brought in more than £250m in sales and underpinned a record £455m spending spree. Big names arrived: Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike, Giovanni Leoni, Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong. Núñez, though, was heading out the door, leaving an emotional farewell behind him on Merseyside and chasing a reset in Saudi Arabia.

That reset never truly materialised. Al‑Hilal’s project shifted again with the arrival of Karim Benzema, and Núñez quickly slipped into the “surplus to requirements” category for a second time in as many summers. Now, the exit route appears to run through Turkey.

Salah, who brought a glittering nine‑year spell at Liverpool to an end this summer, has already signed a two‑year contract with Trabzonspor. The prospect of the pair linking up again – this time in the Black Sea city rather than under the Anfield lights – has accelerated into something very real.

Turkish journalist Yagiz Sabuncuoglu reports that Trabzonspor have reached an agreement with Núñez and are in negotiations with Al‑Hilal to finalise the move. Other outlets in Turkey suggest the deal is likely to be a loan.

That detail matters. A temporary switch would hand Núñez a vital platform: regular minutes, a central role, and the chance to rebuild his confidence in front of goal. If he catches fire in the Süper Lig, his market value rises, and Al‑Hilal suddenly have a much stronger hand whether they decide to cash in permanently or fold him back into their plans.

It would not be his first escape route of the summer. Talks were opened with MLS side Atlanta United last month, but those discussions stalled and went no further. Turkey, not the United States, now looks like his next stage.

Núñez’s story at Liverpool remains a curious one. On paper, the numbers were far from disastrous: 143 appearances, 40 goals, 26 assists. He stretched defences, ran in behind, and carried a constant threat. Yet the debate around him rarely stopped. Missed chances, a hefty fee, and the relentlessness of the Premier League spotlight turned him into a lightning rod for criticism.

Not everyone bought into that narrative. Atletico Madrid defender Álex Grimaldo, who played alongside Núñez at Benfica, has openly questioned the scrutiny the striker faced.

“I thought that when he went to Liverpool, he was perfect for the Premier League, the type of player, and for Liverpool above all,” Grimaldo told After de Post United, via El Universo. “He was a very fast, very powerful striker, with a lot of goals, a good shot.

“I think he’s scored a lot of goals, he’s played… I just don’t understand the criticism. It always happens that when there’s a very high price, they demand double or triple, and it’s not the player’s fault, because the player has nothing to do with the price. It’s between clubs.

“So, in the end, you go to a team like Liverpool, there’s pressure, they demand a lot of you. There's always criticism, but I think he’s scored a lot of goals and assists for Liverpool anyway.”

Now comes the next test. A passionate fanbase, a demanding league, and the chance to share a forward line with Salah once more. For Núñez, Turkey might not just be another stop – it might be the place where the conversation around him finally changes.