Liverpool legend Steve Nicol has explained why the signing of Darwin Nunez will provide an “extra weapon” for his former club.
The Reds have reached an agreement with Benfica for the transfer of the 22-year-old. The Portuguese club confirmed in the early hours of Monday morning that a deal worth a potential £85m (€100m) had been struck.
Nunez will now undergo his medical ahead of the club confirming the deal. He is set to become Liverpool’s second summer signing, following the arrival of Fabio Carvalho from Fulham.
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And pundit Nicol has been reacting to the news, explaining why the arrival of the Uruguayan striker will help Jurgen Klopp’s side in a tactical sense compared to last season.
“Unless it’s a piece of brilliance from Mane or Salah in wide areas then it’s just lots and lots of passing, little one-twos, trying to get half a yard in the penalty box,” Reds great Nicol told ESPN.
“There has never been a threat from a wide area with a ball in the air, we’ve talked about how great Jota is in the air but to have a real centre-forward with more height and another option - an option Liverpool haven’t had.
“You can just fling a ball in the box and this guy will find a way of getting onto it.
“Why were Liverpool not scoring in these three basic cup finals? Well, clearly Klopp was thinking the same thing. Right off the bat, on the face of it, he has addressed that.
“He’s the guy, who I think, will be Liverpool’s next number nine and a guy who will score a goal from [just] a ball in the box which Liverpool haven’t been able to do so it’s an extra weapon and it’s upfront, fantastic.”
