On the day after Darwin Nunez was unveiled as a Liverpool player, it's time for your Liverpool morning digest for Wednesday, June 15.
Darwin Nunez £85m transfer confirmed as Liverpool wages, contract clauses and fee explained
Liverpool have confirmed the signing of Darwin Nunez from Benfica in a deal that could see the striker become the most expensive transfer in the club's history.
Nunez completed his medical on Tuesday and has put pen to paper on a six-year deal that will see him tied to Anfield until 2028, subject to international clearance and work permit approval. The 22-year-old striker had been a target for a number of clubs including Manchester United, with Liverpool moving quickly to agree player and club terms to ensure the player's desire to move to Anfield was realised.
READ MORE: Jurgen Klopp makes Liverpool 'ambition' point and Darwin Nunez 'pressure' claim after £85m transfer
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The Reds negotiated a deal with Benfica for the Uruguay international, paying a set fee of £64.1million (€75m) with a possible £21.3m (€25m) in add-ons depending on individual success, ranging from reaching appearance landmarks, scoring goals to winning the Champions League. While the initial fee for Nunez is lower than the club record £75m spent to take Virgil van Dijk from Southampton in January 2018, the likelihood is the forward will trigger sufficient add-ons to at least match that fee with regular appearances.
The large fee has been offset by the personal demands of Nunez, which are more in keeping with those of Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz of around £140,000 a week rather than the higher wages of established forwards Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino. Spanish side Almeria will receive 20% of the fee as part of their €24m deal to sell Nunez to Benfica in September 2020.
Nunez - who will wear the number 27 shirt vacated by Divock Origi - will officially begin his Anfield career when the transfer window opens for overseas signings on July 1. He follows 19-year-old attacking midfielder Fabio Carvalho, a £5m arrival from Fulham, as Liverpool's second capture of the summer.
Read the full story HERE.
Bayern Munich prepare 'third Sadio Mane bid' as Liverpool stand firm
Bayern Munich are reportedly preparing to make a third bid to sign Sadio Mane from Liverpool after having their two previous offers rejected. The Reds value their number 10 at £42.5million as he enters the final year of his contract.
It is believed Mane wants to leave Anfield this summer to embark on a new challenge in football with the Allianz Arena his preferred new home. Bayern's first two offers for Mane of around £25 million and £30 million, but Liverpool are holding out for more.
Liverpool are already preparing for life without the Senegal international with a move for striker Darwin Nunez set to be complete d. The fee for Nunez is £64 million up front, but it could rise to £85 million if add-ons are met.
Robert Lewandowski has expressed his desire to leave the German champions for Barcelona and Mane is seen as a replacement for the Poland striker. As reported by BILD, Bayern's sole focus this week is to secure Mane and it is reported they will put a new offer in worth £30.3 million with another £4.3 million in add-ons.
Read the full story HERE.
