Liverpool transfer target Darwin Nunez is hesitant to join Manchester United this summer as they are not in the Champions League next season and is weighing up his other options, according to The Mirror.
United and Liverpool are two of a number of clubs that are keen to sign Benfica’s 22-year-old forward. The Uruguyuan scored a remarkable 34 goals in 41 appearances for the Portuguese side across the 2021/22 campaign and has emerged as one of the most sought-after forwards in Europe ahead of the summer transfer window. His exploits included six Champions league goals and two against Liverpool in the quarter-final.
And The Mirror reports that the Uruguayan is desperate to play in the competition again next season, which is an "issue" for the Red Devils. It was reported last week that United had emerged as favourites for his signature with new boss Erik ten Hag keen to begin his rebuilding project at Old Trafford with the forward’s capture. However, after finishing sixth last term, the Dutchman’s side will only be in the Europa League next year and the latest development has given encouragement to the Reds as they look to deal with the impending departure of Sadio Mane.
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Jurgen Klopp has previously expressed his admiration for Nunez, hailing him ahead of Liverpool's Champions League meeting with Benfica. Back in April, the German said: “He’s a good striker. The next one from Uruguay!
"I don’t know how they play together - Cavani, Suarez and him, in one team – that’s probably a challenge to put that in place. Top, top boy. Yes, the goals he’s scored. Obviously the one against Ajax in Amsterdam was a massive one, yes in the group stage as well, so he’s not shy."
Nunez has also changed agents this summer from his Uruguayan representative Edgardo Lasalvia to link up with superagent Jorge Mendes who is angling for a major move.
Benfica turned down a £30m bid from Brighton last summer for the forward and held off on January interest from West Ham and Newcastle. The forward’s asking price is now a rumoured £85.2m but the Portuguese side hope that this could rise to £100m if a bidding war is sparked.
The ECHO understands Liverpool will not be drawn into an auction with United over the in-demand forward that could see them pay above their accepted value for the forward. Nunez is among a number of players on the Reds' shortlist as they look to continue evolving their attack with Mane and Takumi Minamino likely to follow Divock Origi in departing this summer.
Nevertheless, they appreciate that any final fee is likely to challenge or even surpass the club record £75m the Reds paid to take Virgil van Dijk from Southampton in January 2018. Liverpool will raise substantial funds for any move with the expected sales of Minamino and Mane. The former has interest from several suitors and is available for £17m, while the latter is being courted by Bayern Munich with Liverpool holding out for around £42.75m.
Nunez’s age and style of play make him an attractive proposition for Liverpool. However, they are continuing to assess other options in the event a deal for Nunez does not prove realistic.
