Jurgen Klopp insists his Liverpool squad have 'fallen in love' with summer signing Darwin Nunez.
The Uruguay international, 23, was signed from Benfica last month for an initial £64million. That figure could rise to £85m with add-ons, which would make him the most expensive player in the club's history. The striker arrives with a fine CV, scoring 34 club goals last term.
Nunez will replace Sadio Mane in the starting XI following his summer transfer to Bayern Munich. The Senegal international, 30, established himself as a key member of Klopp's side and a club legend during his six-year spell at Liverpool, scoring 120 goals.
Klopp is hoping Nunez can hit the ground running at Anfield and is encouraged by what he's seen so far. The promising forward made a huge impression during Benfica's Champions League quarter-final clash against Liverpool last term, finding the net in both legs.
The Reds have confirmed Nunez will be part of their pre-season tour of Thailand and Singapore. Klopp's side will play friendlies against Manchester United, Crystal Palace, RB Leipzig and RB Salzburg before the Community Shield against Manchester City on July 30.
"It was massively impressive when he played in front of us," Klopp told Liverpool's website. "When you prepare Benfica, you know up to the size of shoes – we know absolutely everything about an opponent, so we know exactly about the quality of Darwin.
Will Darwin Nunez be a success at Liverpool? Let us know in the comments below!
"It was not clear if he would play because he came back from internationals, in the first game that was. It was clear that he was really good. But when you see it then live, it was really impressive.
"The power and the mix-up with technique, the desire, smart moves, the problems he caused us," said Klopp as he pointed out the specific things that impressed them. "We fell all in love in these two games.
"A very aggressive South American, it’s a good thing! It was really a joy to watch him and so when we realised we had a good chance to sign him, we were all-in and we’re really happy he’s here now."
Klopp also revealed why Liverpool signed fellow newbies Fabio Carvalho and Calvin Ramsay to the club. "Because of their quality," said the Liverpool boss. "The quality is the first thing and then the age comes in.
"Because if you have quality and you are 32 I’m very interested, to be honest. But quality and being 18 or 19, playing already an awful lot of games, having a real impact in their team performance for their former clubs, it’s rare. And both had that."
But Klopp has confirmed Ramsay is has picked up an injury. "Calvin is now not training with us in the moment, he has a little injury," he added. "Nobody knew, we found it when he did his medical check. Until today he has no problems but the medical department tells us if we don’t take care for that now, he will have a problem in the future.
"So, when you are that young then of course he has a long career ahead of him, so we are very responsible in these moments, so he didn’t train yet with the team but is doing a lot of fitness work. So, it will not take too long I think."
