Nunez shines at Al Hilal as Liverpool chase Isak

Darwin Nunez starts strong at Al Hilal while Liverpool push for Alexander Isak, amid a busy summer of top-level forward moves.

Nunez shines at Al Hilal as Liverpool chase Isak

Darwin Nunez has started life at Al Hilal with immediate impact, scoring in both of his first two appearances. The Uruguayan, 26, joined last week after Liverpool accepted a £53 million bid from the Saudi side. He linked up with a new-look attack in Germany during a pre-season camp that included Joao Cancelo, Theo Hernandez and Alexandar Mitrovic, and he opened his account in a 6-0 win over Aarau. Nunez followed that by finding the net again against Waldhof Mannheim, signaling a fast start to life in a league eager to make a statement in the transfer market.

Al Hilal’s activity continues beyond Nunez. Hugo Ekitike has arrived from Eintracht Frankfurt as part of a broader push to strengthen the squad. Liverpool have not stood still, with openings to replace their former forward under scrutiny after the Nunez exit. The club’s talks with Newcastle United over Alexander Isak have intensified; an initial bid of £110 million was rejected, and a second offer could reach around £150 million. Isak has been described as reluctant to return to Newcastle after an injury disrupted their pre-season Asia tour, and he later trained at Real Sociedad to regain fitness. The row of big-name targets suggests Jurgen Klopp is aiming for a rapid rebuild up front even as the market remains volatile and crowded with cash.

The moves reveal how money and prestige are reshaping the way clubs think about top forwards. The Saudi Pro League now positions itself as a serious rival in the market, which can push prices higher and add pressure on clubs like Liverpool to balance talent acquisition with financial sustainability. This dynamic may deliver quick on-field gains but raises questions about long-term budgeting and the sustainability of such spending.

Liverpool’s approach reflects urgency after Nunez’s exit, but it also tests the club’s broader plan for squad balance and youth development. If Isak joins for a record fee, Liverpool must weigh the cost against expected performance, injury risk, and how it fits with their existing attacking options. For Newcastle, Isak’s stance alters the negotiation landscape and could affect how future transfers are valued across Europe. Taken together, the summer signals a shift in how power is exercised in football, where sport and finance are increasingly tangled and outcomes may hinge on a few headline breakthroughs rather than steady, incremental growth.

Highlights

The summer transfer window keeps rewriting what is possible for elite clubs.