Liverpool have reached a verbal agreement to buy Darwin Núñez from Benfica and are preparing the formalities to compete in the deal. They will pay 80 million euros guaranteed by the striker and up to 20 million more in accessories, which means that the Uruguayan could become his record signing.
Virgil van Dijk’s £ 75 million fee is the highest paid by Liverpool, who have played a decisive role in Núñez in the interest of Manchester United. Núñez was Portugal’s top scorer in the 2021-22 season with 26 goals in the league and a total of 34 goals, including two against Liverpool in the Champions League.
The 22-year-old is about to sign a five-year deal and will become the second South American bought by Jürgen Klopp in five months to refresh his attack. Luis Díaz came from another Portuguese club, Porto, for an initial 40 million euros, up to a possible 60 million, and the Colombian has had an instant impact.
If the agreement with Núñez is closed as expected, it will increase the likelihood that Sadio Mané will achieve his desire to join Bayern Munich. Liverpool have rejected two offers from Bayern, the second worth up to £ 30 million, but talks continue. Liverpool want more than £ 40m for Mané, who is 30 and has one year left on his contract.
Núñez has been at Benfica since September 2020 and has scored 48 goals in 85 games there. He was previously in Almeria, which accounts for 20% of the profits made by Benfica by virtue of his transfer of 24 million euros from the Spanish club, for which he signed from Peñarol to his homeland.
Mohamed Salah, who turns 30 on Wednesday, has said he will stay at Liverpool for the final year of his contract. With Roberto Firmino already 30 years old, the renewal process that Klopp is carrying out in its front line is clear. Diogo Jota and Díaz are 25 years old and Núñez would bring even more youth.
Quick guide
How do I sign up for last minute sports news alerts?
Show
- Download the Guardian app from the iOS App Store for iPhones or the Google Play Store for Android phones by searching for “The Guardian”.
- If you already have the Guardian app, make sure you have the latest version.
- In the Guardian app, tap the yellow button at the bottom right, then go to Settings (the gear icon) and then Notifications.
- Enable sports notifications.
Thanks for your feedback.
Chelsea, meanwhile, are competing with Real Madrid to buy goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina at the Chicago Fire. Madrid turned down an offer for the 18-year-old last week and Chelsea hope to reach an agreement after being close to one in February.
Slonina is a U.S. under-20 international and last month turned down a call-up from Poland, whom she can also represent. In August 2021 he became the youngest starting goalkeeper in MLS history when he made his Chicago debut.