Liverpool’s former director of research has revealed why the club decided to push ahead with the signing of Darwin Nunez back in 2022 over Alexander Isak.
Nunez joined the Reds in a then club record move from Benfica, splashing out an initial £64m on him, with add-ons rising to a potential £85m.
The same summer saw Newcastle break their own transfer record, spending £63m to bring Isak from Real Sociedad.
The forwards have had contrasting fortunes in the Premier League with Isak going from strength to strength, while Nunez appears likely to leave this summer.
Nunez has scored 40 goals in 143 matches for Liverpool, with the Uruguayan’s tally including 25 goals in 95 Premier League games.
Despite injury problems having led to Isak playing less matches for Newcastle at 109, Isak has struck 62 times for the Magpies, including 54 goals in 86 Premier League games.
Darwin Nunez has struggled during three seasons at Liverpool after a big money transfer
Alexander Isak, however, has thrived at Newcastle after moving in the same summer window
Jurgen Klopp was reportedly the driving force for Liverpool signing Nunez over Isak
Speaking to the Financial Times, Liverpool’s former director of research Ian Graham has suggested Jurgen Klopp’s growing power over transfer activity at the club was key to the Reds choosing to move for Nunez over Isak.
Graham worked at the club between 2012 and 2023 to help use data analysis to aid their transfer policy, and now serves as chief executive of Ludonautics, a sports advisory firm.
He explained how Klopp had previously been persuaded by the recruitment team to sign Mo Salah over Julian Brandt in 2017, a decision which proved a masterstroke.
Following success in the Premier League and Champions League, the balance of power had altered with Klopp apparently pushing for the signing of Nunez in 2022.
‘Jurgen created a lot of success for the club, so it’s understandable why it moved in that direction,’ Graham said.
‘In 2022, he signed Darwin Nunez instead of Alexander Isak. Both players, if you look at top young centre-forwards in Europe, they would be number one and two — or two and three but [Erling] Haaland was going to [Manchester] City and out of our price range.
‘Jurgen preferred Nunez. It would be very churlish of me to say, “It’s terrible that Jurgen had his choice”, when in the past Jürgen had been persuaded by me and my colleagues of a different choice.
‘And it was still the case that we signed good players — in Nunez’s case, one of the best young strikers in Europe.’
Nunez made just eight Premier League starts under Arne Slot and appears set for the exit
The Uruguayan forward has been linked with a move to the reigning Italian champions Napoli
Isak would be a dream signing for Liverpool this summer but would prove an expensive transfer
Graham added that he believes manager’s having the ultimate say in deciding transfers is both specific to England and is starting to die off, with more faith being placed in recruitment teams over decisions.
Klopp had been vocal in his support of Nunez during his time at the club, stepped down as Liverpool boss in the summer of 2024.
Nunez racked up 47 appearances last season under Klopp’s successor Arne Slot, but started just eight Premier League matches and scored seven times in all competitions.
The forward has reportedly been the subject of interest from Napoli, Atletico Madrid, and Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal this summer, but Napoli are currently viewed as the frontrunners to sign him on a potential cut-price deal.
Mail Sport understands Liverpool want to sign a striker this summer if they can afford one.
Isak would be the dream target but he is likely to command an even bigger fee than the club’s outlay on playmaker Florian Wirtz, an initial £100m rising to £116m with add-ons.
