Arsenal transfer target Darwin Nunez has confirmed that he is set to change agents ahead of a summer where he is expected to be in demand. The Benfica forward reportedly has a number of clubs chasing his services ahead of the summer transfer window - the Gunners as well as Premier League rivals Manchester United having been credited with an interest.
It has been reported that the Portuguese giants could potentially be set to demand up to €80m (£67m) for his services, whilst he has a release clause of €150m (£124m) written into his contract at the Estadio da Luz. Whilst it might have been expected that Nunez’s agents might well have been in for a busy summer, it won’t be his current agents trying to facilitate a move.
Reports in Portugal originally suggested that the Uruguayan was seeking fresh representation - a move that had angered his original agent Egardo Lasalvia. It was suggested that the agent had even gone as far as threatening the striker, something that has been refuted by the 22-year-old despite confirming that he was indeed set to change his representation.
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Taking to Twitter, he wrote: “I want to clarify that I will not renew my contract with my representative Edgardo Lasalvia. I also want to clarify that neither my family nor I have received any threats and we are fine.”
Whilst it remains to be seen who will be facilitating a potential move this summer, there are suggestions that super agent Jorge Mendes has signed an agreement alongside Eugenio Lopez to represent the striker in the UK. It goes without saying then that Arsenal and Manchester United will certainly be taking note as they potentially aim to seal a deal.
The former's Gestifute agency has helped a number of players complete a move from Portugal to the UK including Ruben Neves, Ruben Dias, Ederson and Diogo Jota, to name just a handful.
It of course will not be easy to secure Nunez’ services though. The striker has so far netted 28 goals in all competitions this term including finding the net in Benfica’s 3-1 Champions League reverse at the hands of Liverpool.
He also has over three years left to run on his current contract in Portugal, with outgoing agent Lasalvia appearing to confirm plenty of interest in him. According to A Bola, Arsenal are joined in the race by Manchester United, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid and even north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
