Arne Slot has dismissed reports from Portugal that Darwin Nunez is no longer starting for Liverpool due to a clause in his contract, insisting that no discussions have taken place with Richard Hughes over the striker’s role.

Claims coming out of Portugal in recent days have suggested that Nunez has found himself out of the starting XI due to Liverpool trying to avoid making a payment to his former club Benfica.

According to A Bola (via Sport Witness), the Reds would have to pay the Lisbon club €5 million ($5.7M) once Nunez makes his 60th start across the Premier League and Champions League.

Nunez’s last start for the club came against Southampton on March 8, with Diogo Jota generally preferred as Slot’s first-choice No.9, although Luis Diaz was given the nod against Leicester last weekend, with Nunez not even coming off the bench.

Liverpool boss Arne Slot hits out at Darwin Nunez rumour and brings in Richard Hughes	Richard Hughes just went all in on £50m player who can fix major Liverpool problem	Arne Slot responds to Darwin Nunez transfer clause theory

Further reports this week have suggested that Liverpool has quashed such rumors, with Slot insisting in his pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday’s game against Tottenham that he hasn’t even discussed the matter with sporting director Hughes.

.

Darwin Nunez has not started a game for Liverpool since the win over Southampton in March.

Fanatics Official Sports Apparel — Liverpool

Show your support for Liverpool with apparel from Fanatics

The digital sports platform has this Liverpool Nike 2024/25 Home Custom Replica Jersey, a Mohamed Salah Liverpool Nike 2024/25 Third Replica Jersey, and more merchandise for Liverpool fans
For more news relating to Spurs, visit our sister site Spurs Latest Live.