Erik ten Hag is on the verge of being appointed Manchester United manager. When he officially joins the club, he will be tasked with checking over and vetoing any potential targets the club had intended to pursue.
One area of the squad that needs addressing is up front. With Edinson Cavani leaving on a free transfer and Cristiano Ronaldo having only a year remaining on his contract, United want to sign a younger striker who can lead the project for years to come.
One name that has been heavily suggested is Cavani's fellow countryman Darwin Nunez and it is understood that United will soon hold talks with his agent. Nunez has scored 32 goals in 37 games so far this season, including six in the Champions League.
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The striker would reportedly cost in the region of £66m and it is understood that Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid are also interested. But is he the right man for United to be targeting to lead the line under Ten Hag?
One of his biggest positives is his off-the-ball movement, which allows him to find great positions in and around the opposition box and has led to many of his goals. This was evident in both of his strikes against Liverpool in Benfica's Champions League quarter-final tie.
With Jadon Sancho and Bruno Fernandes creating chances for him alongside the possibility of a new right-winger, Nunez would hopefully thrive. But the role of a striker in a Ten Hag team isn't just about scoring goals.
Nunez is usually the endpoint of many of Benfica's attacking moves and his involvement in the build-up is limited. This may not work under Ten Hag as there is an emphasis on the striker linking the play, bringing others into the game and progressing up the field in a structured fashion, rather than a counter-attacking structure in which the Uruguayan would thrive.
It also must be considered that Nunez is either deployed on the left wing or as a second striker next to Goncalo Ramos at Benfica, allowing him more space to operate in. Unless United were planning on using a similar system, his natural game would be hindered.
United also already have a number of players suited to the left-hand side; Sancho, Marcus Rashford, Ronaldo and Anthony Elanga. Adding Nunez would offset the balance even more.
Nunez is a great player but most likely not the right fit for United. And at the price Benfica are asking, there are other strikers who better fit the profile of player that would thrive under Ten Hag like Victor Osimhen and Tammy Abraham.
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