Transfer Centre

Shirt numbers available to Darwin Nunez at Liverpool

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 14 June 2022

Sports Mole takes a look at the shirt numbers available to Darwin Nunez at Liverpool as the Reds prepare to confirm his signing from Benfica.

Darwin Nunez's mega-money move to Liverpool is imminent, with the Uruguayan striker recently arriving on Merseyside to finalise his switch from Benfica.

The Portuguese club have already confirmed that the 22-year-old is heading to Anfield for an initial fee of €75m (£64.1m) which could rise to a club-record €100m (£85.4m) with add-ons.

Nunez is reportedly set to sign a six-year deal with Jurgen Klopp's side and has been pictured at the AXA Training Centre ahead of his official announcement, which could come later on Tuesday.

Here, Sports Mole takes a look at the shirt numbers that could be available to Nunez at Liverpool.

Benfica's Darwin Nunez celebrates scoring their first goal on April 5, 2022 © Reuters

Nunez was immediately handed the number nine upon his arrival at Benfica in 2020 and has certainly done it justice, but that famed jersey is currently in the hands of Roberto Firmino at Liverpool and has been worn by some less successful strikers in Rickie Lambert, Andy Carroll and Christian Benteke in recent years.

Firmino is out of contract in 2023 and could potentially be sold this summer if no new deal can be agreed, so the '9' may fall into Nunez's lap as he hopes to emulate the likes of Fernando Torres and Robbie Fowler.

The 22-year-old has been Uruguay's number 11 for the past couple of years, but there is no chance of Mohamed Salah ceding that jersey after confirming that he would remain at the club for at least one more year.

Nunez's arrival could pave the way for Sadio Mane to leave amid Bayern Munich's efforts to sign him, and the Senegal international's exit would allow the ex-Benfica man to take the number 10 into his possession, which has previously been sported by John Toshack, Michael Owen and Philippe Coutinho.

Uruguay's Darwin Nunez celebrates scoring their third goal against Colombia on November 13, 2020 © Reuters

Liverpool's previous famed Uruguay international, Luis Suarez, would sport the '7' during his time at Anfield, but veteran James Milner should remain in possession of that shirt after committing himself to the Reds for one more year.

Nunez has also donned the 21 for club and country in the past - doing so with Almeria - but that shirt currently belongs to second-choice left-back Kostas Tsimikas at Anfield.

During his time at Penarol, Nunez would wear the '24' for the Uruguayan outfit, and that shirt has been left vacant at Liverpool since Rhian Brewster completed a permanent switch to Sheffield United.

The 16, 19, 25 and 29 are also waiting for their next occupants, and Nunez wore the latter shirt for the 2017-18 season with Penarol, while the '31' has also been hanging in the changing rooms since Raheem Sterling left for Manchester City.

Anticipated exits for Joe Gomez and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain would also give Nunez the choice of the '12' or '15' jerseys, and his predecessor Divock Origi scored a plethora of memorable goals for the Reds in the number 27 shirt.