Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold has shared details of the squad's excitement when they learned Darwin Nunez might be heading to Anfield.
Uruguayan striker Nunez starred against the Reds for Benfica in last season's Champions League, scoring in both legs of their quarter-final meeting. That - along with his more general form for the Portuguese side - prompted Liverpool to seal a deal which could rise to a club record sum if all add-ons are met.
Nunez is one of three players to move to Anfield this summer as the Reds aim to improve on last season's second-place finish. Young forward Fabio Carvalho has joined from Fulham, with Aberdeen right-back Calvin Ramsay arriving to provide competition to Alexander-Arnold in defence.
"When we played him, we knew he was a special player," Alexander-Arnold told Sky Sports. "He brings goals scores a lot of goals, gets himself in good positions, will work hard and fight for wins - and that's what we need and what we expect when we bring players in.
"That's the club mentality, and I think he will slot in. Over the years there has been a few signings where, when the club is linked to them, us players get excited and we're like 'Yeah, he will work for us'. This was definitely one of them."
Nunez scored 26 goals in the Primeira Liga last season as Benfica finished third, and 34 in all competitions. His six Champions League goals also included a last-16 winner at Ajax and group stage efforts against Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
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Nunez has already been among the goals for Liverpool in pre-season. He scored four times in a 5-0 friendly victory away to RB Leipzig, though he failed to net against Red Bull Salzburg as Jurgen Klopp's side fell to a 1-0 defeat in Austria.
The arrival of the 6'2" frontman could provide Liverpool with what it takes to improve on last season, when they missed out on the Premier League title on the final day of the campaign and lost the Champions League final in Paris. Title rivals Manchester City have also strengthened, signing Erling Haaland and Kalvin Phillips, but Alexander-Arnold knows his team can take a step up after coming close to a quadruple.
"We nearly made the impossible possible," the England international continued. "We took it as far as you can - never crossed the line on two of the trophies but we're proud of what we've done.
"We know we can improve. I'm excited to get back, start up again and get going - I'm sure it will be an exciting season."
