Darwin Nunez is touted as Manchester United's number one striker transfer target now Harry Kane is out of the picture - and gave a glimpse of what he can bring the Red Devils at Anfield on Wednesday.
Often cut adrift and frustrated but trying to conjure something out of nothing. That was the evening out for the Benfica striker and it is what it is like these days for United forwards when they visit this part of Merseyside.
United have scored just once in six visits to Liverpool so chances are few and far between. Nunez was as starved of opportunities as his potential future team-mates have been in recent seasons. He did at least match their tally of one goal in six games, with his late strike which inspired a late rally from Benfica.
It could have been more with two also ruled out by the offside flag. The first one was a superb finish as he lifted the ball over Alisson in the opening half. Unfortunately for him, the assistant referee had also raised his flag. The second one was a poacher’s finish that showed the other side to his game. If United scouts were watching then surely they would have been mightily impressed.
He gave Jurgen Klopp’s side plenty of problems over two legs against the Reds that the 22-year-old Uruguayan which would make him a wise signing in the summer for any club. His goal in the first leg last week showed his ruthless streak. While here he was buzzing around and trying to trouble Liverpool ’s back four all night on Wednesday.
He’s slightly shorter than Zlatan Ibrahimovic but still a towering presence and, with his slick black hair in a top knot, he struts about like the Swede. Obviously he is far from the level of Ibrahimovic. But if anyone can take him from Benfica this summer, they would be getting a front man with bundles of potential and an eye for goal already. Arsenal, Chelsea and Paris St-Germain are three others who have been mentioned when talk of a potential move comes up.
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He has now scored 32 goals in 37 games already this season. That is a Benfica side which is well off the pace in the Portuguese top tier. He offers speed in behind and can also play out wide, as he did for much of the second half at Anfield. There is obviously a gamble. But United have wasted so much money on so-called proven stars in recent years they have to start buying players who have yet to fulfil their potential.
Liverpool have shown that taking a top talent from that league can work out quite well as Luis Diaz continues to shine just a few months into his life on Merseyside. Nunez may cost a little more than the £37.5m the Reds have paid so far on Diaz, though. The fees already being talked about are north of £70m for the Uruguayan. What will manager elect Erik ten Hag think of him? Who knows.
But there’s no doubt United need a striker. Edinson Cavani is off in the summer and Anthony Martial - currently out on loan - wants to leave permanently. Cristiano Ronaldo may stay but, as has been proven this season, United cannot rely solely on the 37-year-old forward to lead the line. Marcus Rashford has never really developed into a striker who plays through the middle, with his game now being out wide.
Nunez fits the bill and has already impressed Klopp. Earlier this week, he said: “An extremely good looking boy eh?! He is a really good boy - he played in front of me battling against Konate. He was calm for the finish. He is good, really good. If he stays healthy, he has a big career ahead of him.” But maybe Klopp will be hoping that big career is not at Old Trafford.
