Liverpool poised to deal Man United a major transfer blow

Manchester United have not hidden their admiration for Benfica’s top striker Darwin Nunez.

The Red Devils have been reported to be interested in bringing the 23-year-old who netted 34 times last season to Old Trafford.

But reports reaching National Daily suggest that Liverpool are poised to hijack the deal especially with Sadio Mane expected to quit Anfield as Jurgen Klopp wants to sign a replacement before he sanctions the Senegalese’s departure.

National Daily understood that Manchester United had been targeting Nunez but the publication can now confirm from the report Daily Mail that Liverpool have initiated talks with Benfica and that the forward would prefer a move to Anfield.

‘Extremely good looking boy, huh?’ said Klopp.

‘And a decent player as well. Really good, really good. I knew before, of course, but he played pretty much in front of me with his tough battles with Ibrahima Konate.

‘He was physically strong, quick, was calm around his finish. Good, really good. I always say in these situations if he is healthy, it’s a big career ahead of him.’

Darwin Nunez remarkably netted 34 goals last season

Benfica paid around £19m for Nunez in 2020 and his former club, Almeria, are due a 20% sell-on fee from his departure.

The Portuguese club are therefore seeking around £85m for Nunez’s signature and that would smash Liverpool’s transfer record, which remains the £75m they paid for Virgil van Dijk in 2018.