The Times columnist and former Chelsea forward Tony Cascarino says he can see similarities between Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez and Timo Werner.

The German, who was a target for the Reds before he joined Chelsea, had a reputation for being extremely wasteful in front of goal during his spell at Stamford Bridge, and Cascarino claims Nunez is in danger of going down the same path:

“They’ve got a major issue to resolve: Darwin Núñez. He’s had the odd moment where it’s clicked but with Luis Díaz and Diogo Jota back he looks nowhere near the starting XI.”

“Cody Gakpo is also ahead of him in the pecking order. I hope I’m wrong but he’s reminding me of Timo Werner at Chelsea — lots of running, effort and promise but ultimately falling short. He needs a big pre-season with lots of goals.”

Many Liverpool supporters do harbour the same fears that Cascarino does about Nunez. The 23-year-old looks to have all the qualities required to be a top striker but his profligacy is a major concern.

Not every pundit believes that the Uruguayan will go the same way as Werner, though. Both Ian Wright and Alan Shearer have expressed more optimism about the forward’s potential.

Even so, Nunez needs to be on it from the get-go in pre-season so he can give himself the best possible chance of hitting the ground running at the start of the new campaign.