KEY POINTS
- Liverpool are set to sign Darwin Nunez on a six-year contract
- The Reds will pay a total of $105 million for Nunez
- The young striker scored a total of 34 goals last season
Benfica have confirmed they have reached an agreement with Liverpool FC over the transfer of striker Darwin Nunez.
The transfer fee combined with add-ons for Nunez's transfer will be around $105 million, according to an official release from the Portuguese club.
"Benfica have reached an agreement with Liverpool FC for the sale of all rights to the player Darwin Nuñez, for the amount of $79 million (75 million euros). The agreement provides for the payment of variable remuneration, so the global amount of the sale could reach the amount of $105 million (100 million euros)," the release read.
The Primeira Liga club also revealed that Nunez is yet to sign a contract with Liverpool.
The Uruguayan forward is due to have his medicals with Liverpool on Monday, according to Fabrizio Romano, who has a credible record in the European transfer market. The Italian journalist also revealed that Liverpool are expected to tie down Nunez on a six-year deal.
Nunez is set to become Liverpool's most expensive signing, with his fee surpassing the $92 million paid to secure center-back Virgil van Dijk from Southampton in January 2018.
Darwin Nunez of S.L. Benfica Photo: Getty Images | Carlos Rodrigues - UEFA/UEFA
The 22-year-old finished the 2021-22 Primeira Liga season as the leading goal scorer with 26 strikes in 28 games. He also, by far, finished as Benfica's top scorer in all competitions with 34 goals and four assists in 41 matches.
Nunez impressed Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp by scoring in each leg of Benfica's Champions League quarter-final with the Reds in April.
"Extremely good-looking boy, eh? And a decent player as well. Really good, really good, you have to say. I knew before, of course, but he played pretty much in front of me with his tough battles with [Ibrahima] Konaté. Physically strong, quick, plus calm around his finish, when he finished the goal off he was really calm. Good, really, really good. How we say in these situations, if he stays healthy, it’s a big career ahead of him," Klopp had heaped praise on Nunez earlier this year, according to The Guardian.
Liverpool finished the 2021-22 season with two trophies: League Cup and FA Cup. While they lost the UEFA Champions League final to Real Madrid, the Reds missed out on the Premier League title by just a point.
