Tottenham and Newcastle Circle as Nunez Plots Premier League Return
Darwin Nunez has lived a football life that swings wildly between promise and perplexity. One week he looks unstoppable, the next unrecognisable. Now, after a curious turn in Saudi Arabia, the striker is once again at the centre of English football’s rumour mill, with Tottenham and Newcastle both exploring the possibility of a deal.
According to reporting from TEAMtalk, intermediaries have already sounded out several clubs, including Spurs and Newcastle, after Nunez’s situation at Al-Hilal deteriorated following squad changes that left him sidelined. It is a familiar tale: a talented striker lost in circumstance, now searching for a stage that suits him.
Saudi Stint Turns Sour for Nunez
Nunez’s move to Al-Hilal last summer was worth roughly £46 million, a transfer that promised stability and goals. Instead, it has delivered frustration. After Karim Benzema joined the club, foreign-player quota restrictions forced Nunez out of the Pro League squad.
For a forward who thrives on rhythm and confidence, exclusion from competition is brutal. Sources quoted by TEAMtalk suggest he was “blindsided” by the decision and is now willing to make “a huge personal sacrifice” to return to Europe, even though his Saudi wages reportedly stand at around £400,000 per week.
Footballers often chase money in their late twenties. Nunez, however, seems to be chasing noise, purpose, redemption. And that is why Tottenham and Newcastle are listening.
Tottenham Seek Cutting Edge Under Tudor
Tottenham’s interest makes sense. Spurs have talent in wide areas but crave consistency in the penalty box. Under interim manager Igor Tudor in the 2025-26 Premier League season, Tottenham have searched for balance, often relying on work rate rather than cutting edge.
Nunez brings something different. He is not tidy. He is not always clinical. But he is relentless. Defenders dislike forwards who never stop moving, who attack space with reckless conviction.
Tottenham have been alerted to his potential availability, though no formal move has yet been made. For a club looking to inject unpredictability into their attack, Nunez could be a gamble worth taking.
Newcastle Monitor Opportunity for Howe’s Squad
Newcastle’s interest, meanwhile, reflects Eddie Howe’s careful squad building. Howe has constructed a side capable of European qualification, yet depth remains vital across a congested calendar.
Nunez’s pressing intensity and physicality suit Howe’s system. Newcastle admire strikers who stretch defences and open space for midfield runners, traits Nunez possesses in abundance.
Newcastle are among clubs contacted by intermediaries about his situation, alongside European giants Atletico Madrid and Juventus. But England’s pull is strong. Newcastle’s ambition, their investment, their electric home crowd — all offer a compelling proposition.
Redemption Arc Beckons Back in England
Football is rarely linear. Nunez’s Liverpool years were noisy and polarising, yet packed with moments of brilliance. He scored important goals, created chaos, unsettled defenders. That ability has not vanished.
His Saudi exile feels temporary, almost accidental. At 26, he still has time to define his legacy.
Tottenham and Newcastle represent contrasting possibilities. Spurs offer London glamour and reinvention. Newcastle offer passion and momentum. Both offer relevance.
TEAMtalk note that to return to Europe Nunez would likely accept reduced wages, proof that this is about more than money. It is about competition, identity, belonging.
Football has seen many second acts. Players rediscover themselves in familiar leagues, under new coaches, before new crowds. Nunez may yet do the same.
If Tottenham or Newcastle take the chance, England might once again witness the striker at his most chaotic, most compelling, and perhaps finally, most complete.
