A new partner for Salah: Nunez edges closer to Besiktas

Besiktas' most eye-catching double signing plan of the summer window has reached a concrete stage. According to Sacha Tavolieri, Darwin Nunez is edging closer to a loan move to Besiktas until the end of the season.

This development points in a different direction from a story we covered earlier. Following the report on Nunez being considered as Barcelona's alternative to Julian Alvarez, the player's path has now turned towards Istanbul.

This file's connection to Salah has also become clear. According to Goal, while trying to complete the Mohamed Salah deal, Besiktas had also made contact with Al-Hilal to loan the Uruguayan striker; it is emphasised that, should the duo reunite at Besiktas, Salah and Nunez would once again share the dressing room they previously shared at Liverpool.

The fee negotiation has also become clear. According to an earlier report from Fanatik, Besiktas had submitted a €4 million offer to Al-Hilal to loan Nunez for a single season; according to TransferFeed, the parties are now largely in agreement on the contract terms, with Besiktas' proposed €4 million loan fee still on the table.

The player's approach to this move is also positive. Nunez is reported to want to continue his career in Europe and holds a positive view of the project at the Turkish club.

The player's current situation also makes this move logical. Unable to feature in league matches at Al-Hilal since February due to foreign-player quota restrictions following Karim Benzema's arrival, the 26-year-old Uruguayan striker is recalled to have joined Liverpool from Benfica for €64 million in 2022, scoring 40 goals in 143 appearances in England, before moving to Al-Hilal in August 2025.

Source: Sacha Tavolieri
Image: Al Jazeera