Former Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann has told the club it would be a mistake to sell Darwin Nunez - and he believes the striker could make the Reds regret it.

Speculation has been growing over Nunez’s future since the January transfer window opened. Recent reports have linked him with a move to Saudi Arabia as his opportunities at Anfield decrease.

The Uruguay international has not had a good season in front of goal, having scored just six times in 27 appearances so far. He did manage to revive his campaign at the weekend though after scoring twice in stoppage time to earn Liverpool a crucial 2-0 win over Brentford.

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Nevertheless, there does seem to be a growing sense that Nunez’s future lies away from Merseyside, with Jamie Carragher suggesting he can’t see the 25-year-old staying beyond this season.

Hamann though feels that Liverpool would be making a mistake if it let Nunez go before the end of the January window - although he does concede that there is an amount that would be impossible for the Reds to turn down.

“Darwin Nunez is a modern footballer who can lead the line on his own and is a huge presence and I wouldn’t be surprised if he got 25 goals a season again at another club where he could hit the ground running,” Hamann told BestOffShoreSportsbooks.org.

“But I’d be very surprised if Liverpool didn’t make a loss on him although that could recoup a big part of the money they paid.

“The issue is when you sell up and if they want to get that money now, I wouldn’t sell in January because Liverpool are in all four competitions and could play another 30 games in the next four months.

“You need strength in depth so it would be a mistake to let him go now. He can be a very important player and it would cost a lot of money to replace him. If a Saudi club came in with a bid for £100m then you have to take it. But I’d be reluctant to sell.”

Liverpool.com says: There’s no way Liverpool should be selling Nunez now, not when they’re still in the running for four trophies this season. Beyond this campaign though, if there is the opportunity to offload him and recoup some of the money spent on him, then the Reds should take that chance.

As good as that double at the weekend was, moments like that are few and far between with Nunez, and after nearly three years at Anfield, he isn’t going to suddenly turn things around. As Hamann says, Liverpool is probably going to have to take a loss on the return, but hopefully they can still get a decent amount.