Former Liverpool striker Emile Heskey has suggested that Darwin Nunez could still have a future at Anfield, but not as Arne Slot's starting number nine.

The jury has been out on the Uruguay international ever since he joined in a record-breaking deal from Benfica in 2022, arriving for an initial £64m which could rise to as much as £85m through performance-related add-ons.

Nunez has only managed seven goals in 40 matches across all competitions this season, though, and he was overlooked for a spot in the first XI for the weekend's 2-1 loss to Newcastle United in the EFL Cup final, only being given a half-hour run-out off the bench.

In contrast, lethal Magpies striker Alexander Isak scored his 23rd goal of the season in all competitions at Wembley, and the Swede has been strongly linked with a move to Liverpool in the event that Nunez leaves amid reported interest from Saudi Arabia.

However, speaking exclusively to Sports Mole, ex-Reds forward Heskey has warned Liverpool that "every team in the country" will be after Isak, and Nunez has some desirable traits that could make him an "impact player" from the bench.

Could "impact player" Nunez still have a future at Liverpool?

Asked if Liverpool should go all out for Isak, Heskey replied: "That's a tough one, because he's that good, every team in the country he'll be on all their radars. I will say that Darwin, when it comes to the sort of finishes that Isak did on Sunday, he's OK with them.

"It's the ones where he's got a bit more time that he hasn't really got the composure and to steady himself and really pick the pass or pick the finish that he wants. The ones where it's just a snap finish, he's actually OK with.

"I think for Darwin, he's probably more of an impact player from the bench rather than actually being a starter now. And we need starters. Jota's good, but in selective games. Certain games, you need a bigger striker or a different striker.

"Diaz I quite like, because it gives you something different, but none of them are strikers, they're all wingers or converted 10s. So it'd be good to see that they're going to the market and really get someone who's established you can change it up a little bit."

While Nunez is struggling to cut the mustard at the tip of the Liverpool attack, another centre-forward at another one of Heskey's old teams - Ollie Watkins - continues to thrive under Unai Emery.

Heskey names one club who could realistically sign Ollie Watkins

The 29-year-old has amassed 13 goals and six assists in 29 Premier League matches this season and was understood to have been the subject of a failed bid from Arsenal in January, before helping lead Villa into the Champions League quarter-finals.

Watkins also struck the winner against former club Brentford in Villa's last Premier League game on March 8, and the England international is still contracted to the West Midlands giants for another three years.

As a result, Heskey cannot see him moving on while the Lions remain at Europe's top table, unless Arsenal try their luck again, adding: "I expect him to keep going at Aston Villa.

"They're on the rise, they're still in the Champions League, they're doing well. They've got a manager who's progressive, who knows about European football, knows about trying to win titles.

"The only one I could possibly see is, he's an Arsenal fan, so going to his boyhood club if they can structure a deal. But obviously Villa are holding all the aces."

Heskey also revealed which Liverpool player's contract he would prioritise out of Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold as the trio prepare to enter the last three months of their current agreements.

Emile Heskey was speaking to Sports Mole on behalf of BetVictor Casino.