adminLONDON. – Liverpool are ready to launch a club record £85million bid to land Benfica strike sensation Darwin Nunez, it’s understood.
Jurgen Klopp’s domestic double Reds are looking to beat fellow Premier League sides Manchester United and Newcastle to Nunez’s signature.
It comes with the club desperate to replace Sadio Mane, who looks certain to leave – most likely to Bayern Munich.
According to Portuguese publication Record, Liverpool have offered Benfica big money to sign the 22-year-old.
However, other reports suggest a formal bid is yet to be made but they have been told it will take an offer of around £85m to make it happen.
The Daily Mail claims Liverpool sporting director Julian Ward has been in talks with the Portuguese side.
Were Liverpool to meet Benfica’s demands, Nunez would become Liverpool’s biggest ever transfer, surpassing Virgil van Dijk’s £75m move from Southampton in 2018.
Prem rivals Manchester United and Newcastle have also been linked with Nunez’s signature.
However, Liverpool can offer Champions League football on Merseyside, something neither United or Newcastle can do.
Klopp was able to see the player in action first hand during last season.
Liverpool knocked Benfica out in the quarter-finals of the Champions League 6-4 on aggregate, but striker Nunez scored two over both legs.
Nunez also saw two goals chalked off for offside in the second leg, which could’ve completed a hat-trick at Anfield.
On Nunez, Klopp said: “Extremely good looking boy, huh? And a decent player as well.
“Really good, really good. I knew before, of course, but he played pretty much in front of me with his tough battles with Ibrahima Konate.
“He was physically strong, quick, and calm around his finish. Good, really good.
“I always say in these situations if he is healthy, it’s a big career ahead of him.”
His impressive displays against Liverpool were typical of his fine season, with the Uruguay international scoring 26 league goals and 34 in total over the campaign. – The Sun.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter