Arsenal have been told they will need to cough up £67million if they want to sign Darwin Nunez.
Mikel Arteta is on the lookout for a new striker this summer after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's exit to Barcelona and have identified the Benfica star as one of his top targets. Manchester United are also tracking the Uruguayan forward with Ralf Rangnick's men set for a major rebuild.
Newcastle will provide stiff competition for his signature, however, as the Magpies have been keeping tabs on the 22-year-old since January. Nunez, who s cored the winner against Ajax midweek to send the Portuguese club through to the Champions League quarter-finals, has impressed at the Estadio da Luz this season and his stock continues to rise.
But Benfica are not willing to sell their prized asset unless they are heavily compensated as Record claims that the Portuguese giants have increased Nunez's release clause to £67m after his exploits midweek against the Dutch side.
Newcastle were the first team to enter the race and will look to keep flexing their financial muscles following their £305m Saudi-led takeover and will need to add attacking reinforcements with Callum Wilson's injury troubles and Chris Wood enduring a slow start to his career at St James Park who only managed one goal in 10 matches across all competitions since his winter move from Burnley.
Arsenal will not go down without a fight after losing out on multiple targets up front in January including Dusan Vlahovic who snubbed the Gunners in favour of a move to Juventus. The north Londoners are in desperate need of a striker with Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah set to leave the Emirates as free agents with their contracts winding down.
Man United is also an attractive proposition for Nunez with the Red Devils reportedly set to lose multiple strikers. Edinson Cavani has yet to be offered a new contract, while Anthony Martial, on loan at Sevilla, doesn't have a future at Old Trafford.
Cristiano Ronaldo's return to Old Trafford could be cut short - although the latest reports suggest he is willing to stay put for another season - while Marcus Rashford has been told he can leave in the summer by interim boss Ralf Rangnick.
Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain have emerged as potential landing spots for the England international who has not been included in Gareth Southgate's latest squad. Liverpool have also l oosely expressed an interest in the disgruntled forward.
