Darwin Nunez has told interested parties that he's focused on succeeding with Benfica for the time being, but he'll make a decision on his future at the end of the season.
Arsenal are tracking the Benfica striker ahead of a potential summer move, football.london understands. Gunners' technical director Edu is in contact with the representatives of Nunez and has shortlisted the forward as a possible summer signing.
As the Benfica star is one of the hottest prospects in European football at the minute, the Gunners aren't the only side interested. In fact, Chelsea and Manchester United are also reportedly among the clubs monitoring his development.
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Fabrizio Romano reports that Nunez is set to leave Benfica for around €80million (£67million) this summer. That being said, teams may have to wait until the window opens before they start planning moves for the Uruguayan, especially as he has insisted that he's focused on Benfica until the end of the current campaign.
In a 16-word message, he said, as cited by the Metro: "Until the season is over, I won’t say anything, and I’ll leave everything for this shirt." He then added: "My job is to continue like this, to take advantage of this luck that is happening to me.
"Last year I didn’t play at all, but this year I’m having an incredible season. I have to continue like this, and there is also a lot of merit from my colleagues."
Nunez was responding to comments made by Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp ahead of Benfica's Champions League quarter-final, second leg on Wednesday night which ended 3-3 on the night at Anfield, with Klopp's side advancing 6-4 on aggregate. Liverpool's boss has predicted a big future for the 22-year-old, and judging by his words, whoever signs him will be blessed with a star in the making.
“He was calm for the finish [in the first leg]," he said, as cited by the Mirror. "He is good, really good. If he stays healthy, he has a big career ahead of him.”
