Some football fans have Christmas twice a year. Once in December, and another during the summer transfer window. The feeling of being gifted with a player that you need for your club gives quite the sensation.
It's every Football Manager player's dream come true. I must admit, I've summoned the likes of Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe to the virtual Stamford Bridge before. It probably won't happen in reality but there's another future star that I've had my eye on.
A virtual dream may come true for Chelsea as they look towards to future for their next transfer window. After already acquiring Germany's future star boy, Kai Havertz in 2020, how would you feel about the next best player out of Uruguay? Darwin Nunez.
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According to The Athletic, Chelsea, Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain are 'leading the race' for Nunez ahead of the summer window. Benfica are looking for around €70million (£57.8million) for the 22-year-old. The competition is already fierce for the 22-year-old, but despite the uncertain circumstances at Chelsea, the Blues are still the front runners.
Across both legs against Benfica, Liverpool succumb to the clinical boot of Darwin Nunez. It could have been more as the Uruguayan was unlucky to see one of his goals ruled out by VAR. It just shows that he is ready for a Premier League move and capable to produce a clinical performance against a fierce rival of Chelsea's.
The question is who leaves in the summer and why will Darwin Nunez be the perfect replacement?
Chelsea Exits
Timo Werner and Romelu Lukaku have been quite vocal about their situation at Chelsea. It is clear that neither party would be satisfied with another season at the Bridge, so Chelsea need to move fast and plan for contingencies. Marina Granovskaia is set to lead the negotiations in the summer transfer window once the Blues finalise a new owner once and for all. With Borussia Dortmund knocking on the door for Werner, I can imagine that would be the first move for Granovskaia to make.
Although Lukaku wants a dream return to Inter Milan, from what we know of Granovskaia, it's unlikely that he will be allowed to leave unless the price is right. I wouldn't turn down £50million for the Belgian, assuming the Chelsea director can make this Darwin Nunez transfer wish come true.
Darwin Nunez replacement
Benfica have a knack for producing sensational talent. Jan Oblak, Joao Cancelo, Bernardo Silva and of course Joao Felix. Honourable mentions can also go to Angel Di Maria, David Luiz and Nemanja Matic. All of these players had made their move from Benfica to then become one of the best players in their respective clubs. Felix had probably one of the highest ceilings with a talent so raw and natural. Many argue that he wasted it with a move to Atletico Madrid, but we cannot let that happen to Nunez.
Darwin Nunez is an absolutely terror to anyone's defence. His athleticism is worth noting. Like Werner, his acceleration off the mark is a constant threat.
He is often compared to Erling Haaland with a frighteningly filled out posture and how quickly he is able to charge into space with and without the ball. He has the physical strength to hold off players who come up against him. The opposition often see themselves bouncing off of the Uruguayan in attempts to withstand a body-to-body challenge. Sounds just like a version of Romelu Lukaku that now feels like a distant memory.
Chelsea needs a forward that is able to score goals. The athleticism is great, but what about his eye for goal? Scoring 31 goals in 36 games, Nunez is competing with Karim Benzema's numbers. Of course many would argue that he is in a far less competitive league, but the list of previous Benfica players proves that their players can adapt quite quickly to the brutality of other leagues.
I can go on about his goals but it's the manner in which he delivers these results that impresses me. You can find him in any position on the pitch and his main motive will be to score. Whether he is drifting in from the wing, on the counter-attack or waiting in the box, he will look for the goal.
Will Chelsea get him?
If Chelsea want him enough, they can get him. That has always been the motto for Chelsea and it shouldn't change with new owners. Does he fit the criteria of a forward that they are currently lacking? Yes. So why hesitate?
He is hot property on the market right now and Marina Granovskaia will need to be quick in negotiations once the green light has been given. This could be the perfect signing for Thomas Tuchel and possibly the perfect set-up for a two-striker system with Kai Havertz in the mix.
