Barcelona is lining up a possible swoop for Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez, according to reports. Nunez joined the Reds in 2022 but has failed to live up to the hype that preceded his arrival on Merseyside, scoring 34 goals in 103 appearances.

Nunez was compared, perhaps unfairly, to Erling Haaland when he first arrived in England, and his struggles at Liverpool have been magnified by the Norwegian’s incredible output for Manchester City.

Jurgen Klopp showed plenty of faith in Nunez but Arne Slot clearly favors Diogo Jota over the Uruguayan, who has been chosen in a Premier League starting line-up just once so far this season.

Spanish outlet TDF reports that Barcelona could hand Nunez an escape route at the end of the campaign. The report actually says that Erling Haaland is Barcelona’s number one target, but that he will likely be unattainable, so Nunez is viewed as the Blaugrana’s alternative target.

Barcelona is said to be planning for life after Robert Lewandowski, who turned 36 at the beginning of this season.

Meanwhile, an Argentinian youngster dubbed the next Angel Di Maria has said it is his dream to join Liverpool. Thiago Fernandez is making a name for himself in Argentina with Velez Sarsfield, and the 20-year-old has been linked with a host of top clubs.

Several Premier League clubs are reportedly keeping tabs on winger Fernandez, who has registered five goals and nine assists in 33 appearances for Velez this season.

However, it sounds as though Liverpool will have a head-start over any of its rivals if it chooses to pursue the Argentina after he revealed his ambition to move to Anfield.

In a talk at the Interamerican Open University in Rosario, Argentina, Fernandez said: “Playing in Europe, and specifically for Liverpool, is my dream.”

Mohamed Salah’s future at Liverpool remains up in the air, with the Egyptian’s contract at Anfield due to expire at the end of the season, and Fernandez could be a winger who fits the bill.