Darwin Núñez could replace Jürgen Klopp's favorite player in Liverpool transfer exit

Jürgen Klopp has worked with some incredible players over the years. In his time at Liverpool alone, has been accompanied by some of the biggest stars in the game.

After all, you don't post 97 and then 99 points in consecutive Premier League seasons, with a Champions League title in that time too, without having some pretty elite talent. The likes of Alisson, Virgil van Dijk and of course Mohamed Salah have all been among the very best in their positions at various points, as has Trent Alexander-Arnold.

The 'Liverpool 2.0' side he leaves behind is packed full of potential. Klopp revealed he'd be watching the progress of Harvey Elliott closely even after he steps down as manager, there's a sense that the best is still to come from Alexander-Arnold, and there are plenty of others who could go on to achieve real greatness within the game.

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One of those could be Darwin Núñez. In the moment, that seems like an outlandish claim, but few would have even really raised an eyebrow at it a few months ago. The notoriously streaky Uruguayan is packed full of potential, and Liverpool will still hope to fully unlock it.

However, Núñez has been the subject of links away in recent days. It's claimed that Barcelona could make a transfer bid in the summer, which could give Liverpool something to think about.

Should that move materialize (and we're a very long way away from that reality at the moment), Núñez could replace a player whom Klopp once claimed was the best he ever worked with. Interestingly, that dates back to his Borussia Dortmund days.

Spearheading much of Klopp's success in Germany, which included back-to-back Bundesliga titles and a Champions League final, was Robert Lewandowski. The Pole would eventually make the switch to Bayern Munich, a path which became increasingly well-trodden, but spent four years with Borussia Dortmund spanning the peak Klopp era.

In 2021, Klopp admitted that Lewandowski was something of a favorite. He was asked to name the best player he ever coached.

"Robert Lewandowski," Klopp said when asked the question by Lothar Matthäus, as quoted by the Bundesliga website. "It would actually be unfair to say that about any other player than Lewy.

"What he made out of his potential, how he pushed himself to become the player he is today, that's extraordinary."

Having become a legend at Bayern Munich, the striker made a transfer to Barcelona in 2022. That move has been moderately successful, with the goals still somewhat free-flowing, but Lewandowski will turn 36 in the summer. Should Núñez arrive, he would be the long-term succession plan.

In his two years under Klopp, Núñez never quite became a favorite. He has spent the last few weeks of the manager's Anfield tenure as a substitute, with Cody Gakpo preferred from the start against Tottenham. But at Barcelona, he would be tasked with filling some pretty huge boots.

Liverpool.com says: There's no denying that patience with Núñez is growing a little thin. Had he even been an average finisher this season, there's a case that Klopp would be signing off with another Premier League title.

That being said, the idea of selling him is not pleasant. You get the feeling that Núñez could really punish Liverpool if it did give up on him, with the potential clear for all to see. Watching him explode at another club, potentially even replacing a Klopp favorite at Barcelona, would be painful.