Most valuable player in Portugal
Sadio Mané is high on Bayern Munich’s wishlist and while Liverpool have yet to agree on a transfer fee, the Reds are already preparing for his potential departure. According to a report by Record and The Times, manager Jürgen Klopp wants to sign Benfica star striker Darwin Núñez. But to sign the Uruguayan the Premier League team would have to pay a club-record transfer fee.
Liverpool were told that they would have to pay €100 million for the 22-year-old striker, who is still under contract until 2025. LFC have not yet made an official offer but according to The Guardian, the club is preparing an initial offer of €80 million (£68.4m), plus bonus payments. The current transfer record is held by Virgil van Dijk for whom Liverpool paid €84.64 million (to Liverpool’s record transfers). Núñez could become the 13th player to cost €100 million or more. At Benfica, João Félix would remain the most expensive player ever sold by the club.
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Núñez recently underlined his value in the recent Portugal market value update. After a mixed first season, the 22-year-old highlighted this season why Benfica paid a record €24 million to UD Almería. The striker scored a league-high 26 goals and added another six goals in the Champions League including against Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Liverpool. Núñez, who was already the most valuable player in Portugal increased his market value by another €15 million to €55 million.
Last winter Núñez was linked with a move to West Ham but the Uruguayan had little interest in joining the London-based club. Other clubs interested were Manchester United, Chelsea, and Paris Saint-Germain. Almería would also benefit from a potential transfer. The Spanish club has an option that will guarantee them 20% of any transfer profit Benfica will receive from a potential deal.
Klopp on Núñez: “If he is healthy, it’s a big career ahead of him”
Klopp made positive comments about Núñez ahead of the Champions League second-leg quarterfinal against Benfica earlier this season. “I knew before, of course, but he played pretty much in front of me with his tough battles with Ibrahima Konaté (in the first leg),” Klopp said. “He was physically strong, quick, was 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.”
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