Transfer rumors, news: Spurs, Newcastle eye former Liverpool striker Núñez

Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United have emerged as leading contenders to sign Darwin Núñez, the former Liverpool striker currently sidelined at Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal, according to TEAMtalk.

The 26-year-old Uruguayan has been left out of Al Hilal’s league and cup squads after the club exceeded its foreign-player quota following the arrival of Karim Benzema. The development has placed Núñez on the market, alerting a host of European sides.

In addition to Spurs and Newcastle, Atlético Madrid and Juventus retain long-standing admiration for Núñez and would explore a deal if financial parameters align. No fee has been mooted, but the striker’s availability is expected to intensify competition this summer.

Elsewhere, Football Insider reports that Julián Álvarez will prioritise a switch to Barcelona should he depart Atlético Madrid, despite Arsenal’s sporting director Andrea Berta—who orchestrated Álvarez’s €95 million move from Manchester City in August 2024—lining up a potential Premier League return for the Argentine forward.

Wolverhampton Wanderers’ 18-year-old prodigy Mateus Mané continues to attract heavy scouting traffic, with Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, RB Leipzig, Borussia Dortmund and a cluster of top-flight English clubs all monitoring his situation. Sources close to the player indicate he is content at Wolves for now, though relegation could alter his stance.

Barcelona are keeping tabs on Levante’s 22-year-old forward Karl Etta Eyong, who rebuffed a late €30 million approach from CSKA Moscow in the previous window. Fulham are also tracking the Cameroonian.

Inter Milan will convert Manuel Akanji’s loan from Manchester City into a permanent €15 million transfer, with personal terms on a €3.75 million-a-year deal through 2028 already finalised. The obligation becomes mandatory if Inter win Serie A, yet the club intend to complete the signing regardless.

Arsenal remain in negotiations over an €80 million swoop for AC Milan winger Rafael Leao, while Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool are all attentive to Eintracht Frankfurt’s teenage left-back Nathaniel Brown.

Aston Villa plan to trigger their €25 million option—plus €3.5 million in add-ons—to make Douglas Luiz’s loan from Juventus permanent, and they are joined by Atlético Madrid, Tottenham, Nottingham Forest and Leeds United in monitoring Lyon’s Pavel Sulc, valued at roughly €50 million.

Liverpool could entertain offers for Cody Gakpo if a marquee left-wing target emerges, and Juventus are preparing to offload Lois Openda in the summer. Newcastle’s search for full-back depth has led them to Wolves’ Hugo Bueno, while Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah is wanted by Aston Villa though assistant manager Liam Rosenior has urged Stamford Bridge chiefs to retain him.

German and English clubs are circling Club Brugge striker Nicolo Tresoldi, and Genoa have tabled a contract extension for Caleb Ekuban through 2028.