London rivals Chelsea and Arsenal could be set for a transfer tussle this summer as reports have linked both with a move for Benfica striker Darwin Nunez this summer. However, according to reports, they aren’t the only Premier League side interested.
Fellow English team Newcastle United are said to have put in an offer to sign the Uruguayan this summer, potentially complicating the move. It comes as both the Blues and the Gunners try to solve their respective problems in attack.
For Thomas Tuchel, his side haven’t been able to keep up with the goal-scoring pursuits of Manchester City and Liverpool this season, despite spending over £100million to sign Romelu Lukaku from Inter Milan. With the Belgian’s lack of goals, the German coach has emphasised the need for patience: “I still believe that he [Romelu Lukaku] will [score goals] because he always did, we need more patience than maybe we all have and wanted with this signing.”
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As for Mikel Arteta, his side are in need of a striker due to a number of reasons. First is their lack of options in the summer, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang already leaving the club for Barcelona and the duo of Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah set to leave at the end of the contracts.
The second reason could be due to the Gunners goal-scoring woes as well. There isn’t a main striking option that has stepped up to score goals this season, having scored the third least in the top half of the table.
The Spanish coach has urged the side to see scoring as a team responsibility, but without a standout striker, it does make that task somewhat tougher. That’s where Nunez has been touted as an option this summer.
The 22-year-old has scored 24 goals in 24 league games this season for Benfica, though he has also proven his ability on the European stage with six Champions League goals too. This form has led to a discussion over a move, though the Blues and the Gunners may have to be aware of other competition.
As Footmercato reports, Newcastle have joined the race to sign the striker and have already offered €60million (£50million) for a summer transfer. It comes following the Magpies’ huge January window where they spent over £100million in a bid to avoid relegation.
Their involvement throws a spanner into the works of both teams, given their investment from new owners. It could make any sort of challenge to sign him very difficult.
