Chelsea are among the clubs said to be monitoring Darwin Nunez’s situation at Al Hilal, with the Uruguayan striker appearing likely to move on after losing his place in the pecking order following his switch to the Saudi Pro League last summer.
The Daily Star reports that Chelsea and Newcastle United are both keeping tabs on Nunez, who could appeal as a loan option or a cut-price acquisition. While his goalscoring record at Liverpool left something to be desired, he showed enough quality in flashes to be considered a viable squad addition for a top-flight side.
The case for Chelsea making a move is not without merit. Their attacking options have looked threadbare this season, with Liam Delap struggling for form and Nicolas Jackson likely to depart after failing to convince either at Stamford Bridge or during his loan stint at Bayern Munich. Running the numbers through a transfer fit assessment, however, Nunez scores a modest 12 out of 25 — reflecting a deal that might offer reasonable value as a depth signing, but one that is unlikely to meaningfully raise Chelsea’s ceiling.
That is a concern given the club’s recent transfer record. Last summer’s window produced little to shout about, with heavy investment in the likes of Alejandro Garnacho and Jamie Gittens yielding little return. Joao Pedro stands out as the rare success story from an otherwise disappointing haul.
Chelsea cannot afford another window that fails to deliver, and for many supporters, a move for Nunez would feel like another step sideways rather than forward. The hope among the Stamford Bridge faithful will be that the club demonstrates greater ambition — particularly with Xabi Alonso arriving and expectations rising ahead of next season.
