Liverpool new boy Darwin Nunez was 'almost' a Brighton and Hove Albion player a year ago as the Premier League side looked to capture the striker from Benfica for a fee significantly less than the one the Reds paid.
It was announced on Tuesday night that Liverpool had confirmed the signing of striker Nunez from Benfica for an initial fee of £64million, but that could rise to £85m - if add-ons are met - breaking the record transfer the Reds paid to Southampton for Virgil van Dijk.
According to newspaper Record in Portugal, Brighton's representatives went as far as travelling to Lisbon to close a deal for the Uruguayan striker, but it collapsed at the final hurdle.
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A £24million fee was reportedly agreed between the Premier League club and Benfica, but the Portuguese club's president caused the deal to collapse.
"At the time, their president Luis Filipe Vieira was arrested, and Rui Costa, who took over the position, chose to ‘freeze’ this exit. But negotiations were at the final stage, and Darwin had 'one and a half feet' at Brighton," Record report.
After scoring just 14 times in 44 appearances since his move from Almeria, Benfica were looking to make a £4million profit on Nunez, but luckily for the Portuguese club, they managed to hold on to for another season and secure a huge fee.
After a stunning campaign in Portugal last season, Nunez earned himself a move to Anfield - where he has signed a six-year deal. With Sadio Mane edging closer towards a move to Bayern Munich, the striker is seen as a suitable replacement for the Senegal star.
