The move to sign Darwin Nunez for Liverpool is reaching an 'advanced' stage with the club reportedly having agreed a fee with Benfica to sign the Uruguayan international for £68 million + £25 million in add ons.
The deal is being widely reported in the Portuguese media, with personal terms to be agreed on a potential five year contract which could be finalised as early as this weekend. The deal in its entirety would eclipse the £75 million deal for Virgil van Dijk in 2018, making it potentially the Reds' record transfer.
Nunez scored in both legs of Liverpool's Champions League quarter final, impressing over the course of the tie as he and his Benfica side were knocked out. After the match, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said of the star: "He is good, really good. If he stays healthy, he has a big career ahead of him”.
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Manchester United are believed to be in the running in the 22-year-old as they seek to improve their squad following a disappointing seventh place finish last season. However, the player is believed to prefer a move to a Champions League club and the events of the last 24 hours make a United transfer even more unlikely.
Former Manchester United and England centre-back Gary Pallister has also come out and said that the Benfica man, who scored 34 goals this season, should join Klopp's side instead of his former club. Speaking to Lord Ping, he said: “Man United are one of the two top biggest clubs in the world, if you get a chance to sign for Manchester United, you'd snap their hands off, usually.
"Obviously players are going to look at United and the troubles they've had, a new manager going in, where they finished last year, not playing Champions League football, they have got European football which can be a bonus but it's not the top tier of European football. I think if you're in a hurry, you're going to sign for Liverpool at the minute."
Liverpool underwent a similar period without Champions League football in recent years before the arrival of Jurgen Klopp and were not able to secure top targets during that time. However, they were able to make signings such as Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Joel Matip during that period, building for the successful era they are enjoying now.
"Liverpool have got Champions League football, they're competing for the Premier League year in year out, they're in a really good place. The thing that United have in their favour is, you'd be joining one of the biggest clubs in the world without a shadow of a doubt. You could be part of that rollercoaster ride they're hopefully going to be on to try and get back to the top of the table.
“You don't dismiss Man United but at this moment in time, you have to say Liverpool would possibly seem like a better destination for most players because they are playing Champions League and they are competitive, that's something that Manchester United are not at the moment.”
