Benfica forward Darwin Núñez could be a perfect competition for Diogo Jota at Liverpool, but FSG is only likely to make a move under specific circumstances.
Darwin Núñez is a name that’s beginning to catch the eye of many Premier League clubs, and Liverpool is no exception.
Núñez has been in sparkling form for Benfica this season, and Liverpool already has 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 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 has 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 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 utilized 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 an attack that Jota currently does, given that he’s taller and possesses more in his locker than the Portugal attacker, but Jota is a favorite 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 conducts a clear-out, he is certainly a player who could end up on their radar.
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