Liverpool tipped to sign£66m ace who would challenge Diogo Jota but FSG have transfer
condition
Darwin Núñez is a name that’s beginning to catch the eye of many Premier League clubs,
and Liverpool are no exception.
Núñez has been in sparkling form for Benfica this season, and Liverpool already have first-hand
experience of what the striker can do.
Nunez scored in the 3-1 Champions League quarter final first-leg defeat, as he seized on Ibrahima
Konaté’s mistake to slot home and give the Portuguese side a faint hope of advancing
to the final four.
Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp had highlighted Nunez before the game as a potential danger
to his team and, goal aside, his performance was worthy of the attention.
Now it seems the club could make an offer for the Uruguayan this summer.
That’s according to journalist Jacque Talbot (via EOTK), who believes that the player will
be shopped around by Benfica once the season finishes.
“With his new agent, Darwin Núñez will be offered to top Premier League clubs – and
that undoubtedly means Liverpool will be asked to look at the striker,” said Talbot.
“My understanding is that super-agent Jorge Mendes will offer the player to the top brass
of English football.
And despite the £125m release clause Benfica have put to his name, I understand it will
take just over half that, about £66m, to seal the deal – maybe even less.
A figure of £66m is a certainly within reach for Liverpool, but it remains to be seen if
the club will look to sign another forward after the January signing of Luis Díaz.
It may be a case of Liverpool taking a look at Núñez if several attackers leave in the
summer, with the futures of Divock Origi, Takumi Minamino and even Mohamed Salah and
Sadio Mané up in the air.
Talbot believes that Núñez would be a direct threat to Diogo Jota through the middle of
Klopp’s 4-3-3 system.
“What could really attract Klopp is Núñez’s versatility in attack.
He can play out on the flanks as well, giving the option of an infield rotation when needed.
“Make no mistake, this will be a player to challenge Diogo Jota in the number nine
role.
It’s no secret Klopp has adapted from the ultra-high press he had utilised before, meaning
another Roberto Firmino – someone like Hugo Ekitike – won’t be looked at.”
Núñez has scored 31 goals in 36 games for Benfica this season and, at 22, has his whole
career ahead of him.
But it’s still difficult to envision Liverpool making a move for Núñez without FSG clearing
some of the fringe players in the squad first.
Moreover, the futures of Salah and Mané would need to be rubber-stamped before an investment
of this magnitude was undertaken.
It’s likely that the midfield is Klopp’s priority this summer, but that doesn’t mean
that FSG won't act if an opportunity that is too good to turn down comes along.
Núñez could offer Liverpool more in attack that Jota currently does, given that he’s
taller and possesses more in his locker than the Portugal attacker, but Jota is a favourite
of Klopp’s, and given his recent development under Klopp’s tutelage, it’s difficult
to see the manager relegating Jota to the bench in order to make way for Núñez.
A start against Manchester City was the latest show of faith.
But should the Uruguayan produce another good display in the second leg against Liverpool
this week, then there’s no telling what might happen in the summer.
Particularly if FSG conduct a clear-out, he is certainly a player who could end up on
their radar.