Liverpool are increasingly hopeful they can win the race to sign Benfica striker Darwin Nunez as Jurgen Klopp looks to revamp his forward line.
The Reds have ramped up their interest in the 22-year-old Uruguay international, who is being courted by a number of clubs including Manchester United, Newcastle United and Atletico Madrid.
While it is understood Nunez would prefer a move to Anfield, Liverpool are reluctant to do business at Benfica's asking price of €100million (£85.5m) and won't be drawn into a bidding war.
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Reports in Portugal, though, have indicated Benfica could be receptive to a structured deal which would see Liverpool pay an €80m (£68.4m) set fee with €20m (£17.1m) in add-ons. It's also claimed Nunez is being offered a five-year contract.
Such a deal would be similar to the one that brought Luis Diaz to Liverpool in January. Porto initially wanted £50m, but soon settled for an initial £37.5m with a further £12.5m in potential bonuses.
The suggested initial fee for Nunez wouldn't surpass Liverpool's club record £75m outlay to sign Virgil van Dijk from Southampton in January 2018, although the overall cost would almost certainly go beyond the figure due to add-ons.
Benfica will have to pass on 20% of any fee to Almeria under the terms of the €24m deal they agreed with the Spanish side to sign Nunez two years ago.
Liverpool will raise substantial funds for any move with the expected sales of Takumi Minamino and Sadio Mane. The former has interest from several suitors and is available for £17m, while the latter is being courted by Bayern Munich with the Reds holding out for around £42.75m. Nat Phillips and Neco Williams are also on the market for £15m each, while Liverpool will also listen to offers for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Nunez has scored 47 times in 84 appearances for Benfica, with 34 goals coming in 41 appearances this season. He netted in the Champions League group stage against Barcelona and Bayern Munich, and scored both home and away against Liverpool in the quarter-finals.
While predominantly a right-footed striker, Nunez can also play behind the front man or on the left wing. He has scored two goals in 11 caps for Uruguay's senior team having made his debut in 2019.
