Liverpool are hoping that Darwin Nunez’s interest in moving to Anfield will prevent the club from having to enter a bidding war for the player. The Reds pursued an analogous strategy of their quests to sign Virgil Van Dijk and Luis Diaz, successfully acquiring the pair without other clubs weighing in on the deals.
Nunez is Liverpool’s top goal for the transfer window with the club desperately in need of reinforcements in attacking areas. The Uruguayan is fresh from a powerful season for Benfica where he scored 34 goals in 41 games including in each legs of the Champions League quarter-final against his prospective recent owners.
The Portuguese club have slapped an £85 million transfer fee on the striker consequently as they seek to maximise their earnings on the player. He has attracted interest across Europe from clubs like Chelsea, PSG and Liverpool’s fierce rivals Manchester United.
The Independent reports that Liverpool intend to persuade Nunez so strongly to affix the club that it negates any interest from elsewhere and likewise weakens Benfica’s negotiating position, with the Anfield side seeking to pay lower than the £85 million asking price.
It is similar strategy the club used to sign Van Dijk from Southampton and Diaz from Porto earlier this yr as each players were so convinced they wanted to affix the club that any interest from elsewhere was quickly made pointless, hence allowing Liverpool to barter easier deals.
It appears to be working on this case because the noises being constituted of Nunez’s camp have put United off signing the player. The Old Trafford club don’t need to enter a bidding war for the player and recent manager Erik ten Hag reportedly sees midfield as his priority as an alternative.
If Nunez does join the club he’s prone to be a direct alternative for outgoing forward Sadio Mane. The Senegal international contract runs out at the tip of next season and he looks set to bring a successful six-year spell on Merseyside to an end as he seeks a recent challenge. He’s attracting serious interest from Bayern Munich, with the Bundesliga champions already having two bids turned down for his services.
The futures of Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino are also unclear with neither contracted beyond the tip of next season. The Egyptian star has said he is not going to leave the club this summer but has suggested he could be open to leaving on a free at the tip of next season. Firmino could also depart when his contract involves an end next yr.
At just 22-years-old, Nunez can turn out to be a much needed long-term option for the club and will find himself within the Liverpool frontline for the following decade. Jurgen Klopp sees the striker as the right option to enhance his attack now and for the years to come back.
