Liverpool boss Arne Slot hits out at Darwin Nunez rumour and brings in Richard Hughes

Arne Slot has slammed reports claiming he has been told not to select Darwin Nunez over a clause in the forward's contract. A Portuguese publication claimed this week that Liverpool owe Benfica £5million if the Uruguay international starts another game this season.

Nunez has not started since Liverpool beat Southampton in March. Slot has preferred Diogo Jota, Cody Gakpo and even Luis Diaz through the middle of his attack this season, which will likely end with the Reds winning the Premier League. Nunez has struggled in some of his appearances but it was claimed that his below-par displays are not the only reason for his lack of starts over the past month. Speculation in Portugual suggested that Liverpool will owe his former club Benfica £5m if he starts 25 matches across all competitions, with the 25-year-old appearing in Slot's starting 11 on 24 occasions.

However, the Dutchman seemed to suggest that is just a coincidence. He criticised the rumour and denied that sporting director Richard Hughes has influenced his team selection.

Slot said: "Do you always believe what journalists say? Not always? Me neither. Sometimes you should, sometimes you shouldn't believe what is written about players.

"It's completely new to me. Normally sporting director is judged on players come in. The last, last, last thing he would do is tell me if you play him it would cost us this much. He'd never, never do that. He never interferes with the line-up. It might be true, but if a journalist says it we have to balance it."

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