Darwin Nunez is wanted by Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool are in talks with Benfica over a big-money move which could smash the club-record transfer fee paid to sign Virgil van Dijk
Darwin Nunez scored against Liverpool with Man Utd scouts reportedly watching on from the stands
Liverpool are immersed in talks which could make Darwin Nunez the most expensive player in Anfield history.
Mirror Football understands that while no formal offer has yet been made for the Benfica striker, a dialogue is open to explore a structured deal…which could eventually rise to beyond the £75m the Reds paid for Virgil van Dijk.
And there is now an appetite to eclipse that figure, in a complicated agreement which could see Liverpool eventually pay between £83-85m through a series of bonuses.
Boss Jurgen Klopp is a big admirer of the Uruguay international striker, and has made the forward his number one transfer target. The feeling is mutual too, with Nunez telling Benfica he only wants a move to Anfield.
Liverpool star Diogo Jota responds to Jurgen Klopp pushing for Darwin Nunez transfer Virgil van Dijk’s view on Darwin Nunez as Liverpool step up pursuit of Benfica star
The Portuguese club had slapped a €100m price tag on one of the most promising – and wanted – young strikers in Europe, but Liverpool have made absolutely clear they will not pay that figure up front.
A compromise though, read in a structured deal with bonus related add-ons, that with success for the player and the English club, could eventually get close to that figure.
It is understood that new Liverpool sporting director Julian Ward has already held informal discussions about a down payment of around £65m, with the rest coming in bonus-related increments of around £18m to the original fee.
While that would mean Van Dijk’s record stands in the short term, it would eventually be smashed if Nunez is a success.
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Liverpool remain locked in talks about a deal to sign Benfica striker Darwin Nunez
The ball is now in Benfica’s court, but with Nunez making clear he won’t listen to offers from rival clubs – including Manchester United, Atletico Madrid and Newcastle – they are under pressure to accept Liverpool’s proposal rather than create a bidding war.
And Liverpool are immersed in talks which could see them claw back much of the potential outlay for Nunez…after rejecting a SECOND Bayern Munich bid for Sadio Mane.
The Reds took the gloves off as they privately dismissed Bayern’s offer as ‘a joke’, with the Germans making a formal offer of £23.5m, with additional add-ons of around £6.5m to take the total close to £30m.
Senior officials at the club are ‘bemused’ at Bayern’s approach, with some of bonuses included in the bid virtually impossible to achieve.
Jurgen Klopp is a big admirer of Nunez and keen to bring him to Anfield
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Mane would have to become a triple Ballon d’Or winner and Bayern collect a hat trick of Bundesliga titles, along with several European trophies, for the bonus payments to be activated.
And now the Liverpool board, led by Ward, have told Bayern not to bother returning unless they have an offer that meets their valuation of the star…which exceeds £40m.
Bayern themselves want in excess of €50m for their star striker Robert Lewandowski, who is three years older than Mane and also has a year left on his contract.
Liverpool are determined to get the maximum price for a player who has been placed in the top five in the world over the past three seasons. They want around £26m down, and then a further £18m in achievable add-ons.
Those additional payments would be structured in a similar way to the Nunez deal, meaning their future payments to Benfica would be guaranteed, and just less than half the down payment also covered.
It would represent a major coup for the Reds, with Mane replaced by a 22 year old with his best years ahead of him, but already with a formidable goalscoring record.
Liverpool have rejected Bayern Munich’s advances for Sadio Mane
He was top scorer in the Primeira Liga last season with 26 goals, and scored 34 in total, including six in the Champions League…with two coming against Liverpool in the quarter final.
Nunez can play on the left as a direct replacement for Mane, but with Luis Diaz taking that position more recently, Mane was moved to the middle, and Nunez is comfortable with a central striking role.
He scored goals from both positions with Benfica, and can act as a traditional target man or a mobile false nine, making him the perfect package for Klopp to mould.
There is more good news for Liverpool, with a £4m deal to sign exciting Aberdeen teenager Calvin Ramsay close to completion. Ramsay could travel south for a medical this week.
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