Liverpool handed possible £70m transfer boost as Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz stances set to be tested

Liverpool handed possible £70m transfer boost as Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz stances set to be tested

Liverpool forwards Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz have both been linked with moves to the Saudi Pro League

Liverpool forwards Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz (Image: PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images )

Al-Hilal pulled off one of the shocks of the FIFA Club World Cup by knocking out Man City on Monday night (June 30). The Saudi Pro League side fell behind early on against Pep Guardiola’s juggernauts, but ran out surprise 4-3 winners AET in Orlando.

City had been one of the favourites to win the inaugural edition of the controversial expanded tournament, and would have been granted a favourable route to the final. But instead, a Marcos Leonardo brace and further goals from Malcom and Kalidou Koulibaly consigned them to defeat after a seven-goal thriller.

‌

The FIFA Club World Cup has been lucrative for City despite their premature exit. They are believed to have earned roughly £37.8m in courtesy of their participation fee and performance prize money.

‌

Crystal Palace stance on Marc Guehi may now change as Liverpool consider options READ MORE:

But they could have earned a whopping £91.9m if they had gone all the way in the tournament.

Al-Hilal certainly sent out a statement by eliminating one of European football’s strongest sides.

But it could also have a knock-on effect for the likes of Liverpool, and no doubt benefit the Saudi outfit when it comes to strengthening Simeone Inzaghi’s side.

Article continues below

The Saudi outfit are believed to have earned roughly £25m from their participation in the Club World Cup so far after reaching the quarter-finals at Man City’s expense.

Should they knock out Fluminense, they will receive a further £15.2m by setting up a semi-final meeting with Palmeiras or Chelsea.

Win again, and reaching the final is worth an additional £21.9m. Meanwhile, being crowned world champions would instead earn £29m - leaving Al-Hilal with a maximum pot of roughly £70m up for grabs.

‌

Owned by the Saudi Public Investment Fund, such prize-winnings won’t make a game-changing difference to the transfer fees Al-Hilal are able to fork out for players. They were willing to spend £100m on Bruno Fernandes prior to the Club World Cup after all, only to be rejected by the Manchester United captain.

But it will still bolster their coffers as they look to add to ranks, having missed out on the Saudi Pro League title last season, with the club having long been credited with interest in Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez.

Yet it is perhaps the performance side that will provide the greater benefit to the Saudi outfit rather than the financial riches on offer.

‌

After all, you beat Man City and people sit up to take note. Such a win also follows on from Al-Hilal drawing with Real Madrid in the Club World Cup group-stages.

While the quality of the Saudi Pro League has often been dismissed in European football, Al-Hilal have now held their own against two of the continent’s strongest sides.

And that could perhaps prompt a re-think from certain players, had they previously been reluctant to move to the Saudi Pro League.

‌

LFC Istanbul 20th Anniversary special edition, on sale now It was and it will be the best final ever,” says Rafa Benitez about Liverpool’s fifth European Cup win in 2005. It’s now 20 years since the Reds defied the odds to overcome a 3-0 half-time deficit to AC Milan in Istanbul to triumph on penalties. In this special Liverpool Echo 48-page celebration of the Miracle of Istanbul we bring you the inside story of how it was achieved, as told by the people who were there. Click HERE to buy online and have it delivered directly to your door, or you can purchase it in participating supermarkets, high street retailers and independent newsagents on Merseyside, in Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland from July 2, 2025. Online postage and packaging costs apply.

Al-Hilal are faring well at the Club World Cup, while Al-Ahli have already booked their place at the 2029 edition of the tournament after winning last season’s AFC Champions League.

Yet Al-Ittihad are reigning Saudi Pro League champions after pipping Al-Hilal last season, while Al-Nassr will be looking to challenge once again after tying down Cristiano Ronaldo to a new two-year contract. All four are all backed by the PIF.

‌

The Saudi Pro League has meant business with mixed results ever since the PIF’s initial investment and statement of intent in the transfer market in the summer of 2023.

But by now backing it up on the pitch on a global stage, it could start to become an increasingly appealing market for its sporting merits rather than just financial.

It’s not just Nunez attracting interest from Saudi Arabia, with Luis Diaz also boasting suitors in the Gulf State.

‌

The pair would reportedly favour switches to Napoli and Barcelona respectively. Though it has been suggested in Italy that the Serie A outfit are struggling to agree a fee for Nunez.

Meanwhile, Liverpool have already rejected an approach from the Catalans for Diaz and don’t wish to sell. But should a lucrative offer from Saudi Arabia be forthcoming, such a stance could be tested.

Alisson Becker, Virgil van Dijk and Diogo Jota have also all been linked with moves to the Middle East in the past too, as has Mohamed Salah, who has already admitted he would have made such a move this summer had he signed a new contract with Liverpool.

‌

That is not to say that the Reds will be cashing in left, right and centre to the Saudi Pro League - far from it.

But with Al-Hilal demonstrating that the quality is perhaps not as weak as first envisaged in Europe, it could open the door to further big-money transfers.

While Nunez and Diaz might prefer to stay in Europe, they could still be open to the Saudi Pro League as Al-Hilal's showings in the Club World Cup help improve its outside perception.

Article continues below

While the wages on offer in the Saudi Pro League have already lured a number of big-name stars over the past two years, including Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Gini Wijnaldum, its biggest pull yet will come on the pitch.

Al-Hilal’s showings in the Club World Cup could go some way to help adjust the previous dismissive narrative.

And with the Saudi Pro League still meaning business, Liverpool could be in line to prosper finically the next time the PIF ramps up a recruitment drive.

Click here to read article