Liverpool transfer target Darwin Nunez has been hailed as the perfect Jurgen Klopp striker - and earned comparisons to the Manchester City-bound Erling Haaland.
With Sadio Mane's exit seemingly edging ever closer, the Reds are weighing up possible replacements, with Nunez one of the forwards they are monitoring.
Liverpool witnessed the Benfica star's talents at first hand this season. The 22-year-old scored both home and away as the clubs clashed in the Champions League quarter-finals.
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And Virgil van Dijk was clearly impressed by what he saw.
Speaking to Rio Ferdinand before the Champions League final with Real Madrid last month, the Reds centre-back namedropped Nunez as one of his toughest opponents, along with four other forwards.
Van Dijk said: "I’ve played against Sergio Aguero, who was obviously unbelievable. (Lionel) Messi, arguably the best player in the history of football, in my opinion.
“(Kylian) Mbappe is different, quick... (Erling) Haaland, also Darwin (Nunez). He’s a bit similar, very direct and quick, tall and strong. It’s quite difficult to play against those guys.”
Liverpool are unwilling to pay over the odds for the Nunez, who has been linked with £85million interest from Manchester United and Newcastle United.
But Danny Murphy has told his former club they must look to sign the Uruguayan.
Ex-Reds midfielder Murphy, speaking on the White and Jordan show, said: “I watched him three times in the space of six weeks. One thing I really liked about him was that he is dynamic.
“He’s a very Klopp-type player with high energy, both with and without the ball. He doesn’t mind a press and saw him running back a few times. When he hasn’t got the ball, he doesn’t mind running in behind. He’s more of a number nine, he’s not going to play out wide.”
