Liverpool are in sizzling pursuit of Benfica’s Darwin Nunez with a brand new attacker firmly on the agenda this summer season, however who’s the 22-year-old and what’s the present state of play?
With Sadio Mane on the lookout for the exit after six years at Anfield, Liverpool are on the hunt for an additional injection of expertise into their ahead line.
And it has taken them to Nunez, Benfica’s 22-year-old versatile ahead with 34 objectives in 41 appearances this season – which included two towards Liverpool.
He’s to demand a record-breaking payment for his signature, however what can we learn about Nunez and the present state of play concerning the Reds’ curiosity?
Who’s Darwin Nunez?
The 22-year-old began his profession in his native Uruguay, with Penarol giving him his first alternative in senior soccer and his rise has been an exponential one.
His beginnings are humble and created an unrelenting need to succeed, even within the face of accidents that threatened the beginning of his senior journey.
In 2017, as an 18-year-old he made his debut for Penarol however needed to wait 11 months to attain his maiden aim after a run of knee accidents, however that didn’t cease Europe from calling.
He solely left Uruguay as lately as 2019, becoming a member of Almeria within the second division of Spanish soccer, permitting him to flourish with the highlight shining so brilliant in his route.
A interval of adaptation was required however he’d go on to make 32 appearances for a return of 16 objectives and three assists, and one season was all it took for Benfica to be satisfied.
The Portuguese aspect parted with €24 million in 2020 for Nunez’s providers, offering a platform to play on the largest stage in European soccer and proceed his upward trajectory.
Nunez has been first rate for Benfica in Europe. pic.twitter.com/NA38dWo9SN
— Sam McGuire (@SamMcGuire90) June 8, 2022
In his first season with Benfica in 2020/21, he would make 43 appearances with 13 objectives and 12 assists to his identify, thriving within the central ahead function.
However it’s this season, 2021/22, that has seen his star garner better consideration because of a prolific marketing campaign that noticed him discover the web 34 occasions in 41 video games in all competitions, organising an additional 4.
In an interview with Sky Sports activities, the previous assistant supervisor at Almeria, David Badia, spoke extremely of Nunez and his prospects within the Premier League having labored carefully with the ahead.
“I believe he’ll match completely within the Premier League. He’s sturdy, he can compete within the duels, he’s very quick.
“He has improved his first contact. If there may be any league on the earth wherein he’ll match completely it’s the Premier League.”
Nunez in profile
Age: 22
Peak: 6’2
Nationality: Uruguayan
Most well-liked foot: Proper
A participant comfy taking part in up entrance on his personal or in a pair, in addition to on the left in a entrance free, Nunez’s professional positioning and motion make him a prolific goalscorer.
The 22-year-old is robust within the air, is instinctive, can run with the ball and isn’t afraid to make selfless actions to create space for his teammates.
With age actually on his aspect, he has loads of time to refine components of his sport and his upside, along with what he already gives, makes him an thrilling prospect for the quick and long run.
What’s the state of play?
Hyperlinks to Nunez date again to final yr, with Liverpool scouts maintaining tabs on the ahead earlier than Klopp and co. acquired a better search for themselves through the Champions League quarter-final.
In current weeks that curiosity has escalated with dependable Merseyside reporters stating early in June that the Reds are ready to interrupt their switch to land the Uruguayan.
A payment of £85 million was signposted — £10m greater than the report payment for Virgil van Dijk — however with Man United and Atletico Madrid additionally events, Liverpool didn’t need to have interaction in a bidding conflict.
Nunez was swiftly stated to be ‘eager’ on an Anfield swap and can have had a style of what it’s like having performed and scored towards Liverpool again in April.
Portuguese press, in the meantime, have acknowledged that an settlement of €80m (£68.5m) along with €20m (£17.1m) in add-ons is barely a matter of time.
What has Klopp stated of Nunez?
The supervisor was complimentary of the Uruguayan previous to the Champions League second leg quarter-final tie towards Benfica earlier within the season, having seen him excel at Anfield:
“Extraordinarily good wanting boy, huh? And a good participant as properly. Actually good, actually good.
“I knew earlier than, after all, however he performed just about in entrance of me along with his powerful battles with Ibrahima Konate [in the first leg].
“He was bodily sturdy, fast, was calm round his end. Good, actually good. I at all times say in these conditions if he’s wholesome, it’s a giant profession forward of him.”
It’s additionally attention-grabbing to notice that worldwide compatriot and ex-Purple Luis Suarez was extremely complimentary of the 22-year-old:
“I’ve 15 years of worldwide expertise. I do know a factor or two about forwards. And I informed them, ‘Take note of this one, he’s excellent, he exhibits attention-grabbing issues’,” he stated of Nunez.
Position at Liverpool?
Whereas versatile throughout the ahead line, Nunez, for a lot of, represents what could possibly be the following evolution for Klopp and his Liverpool aspect.
The supervisor has lengthy favoured the 4-3-3 system however has deviated from that in his close to seven years on the membership, and Nunez, as a extra conventional ahead, might see a 4-2-3-1 formation readily turned to.
It could enable Nunez to steer the road with Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah on the wings, with the likes of Roberto Firmino and Harvey Elliott able to slotting within the No. 10 function, as too Fabio Carvalho sooner or later.
A departure for Mane would take an choice away however with Diogo Jota additionally within the ranks, there are alternatives in abundance for Liverpool to be versatile with their strategy.
Klopp has constantly sought to evolve every season, by no means staying stagnate within the seek for success, and Nunez represents an intriguing choice that might play a decisive function within the subsequent stage of evolution.
