Benfica have confirmed they have reached an agreement with Liverpool over the transfer of Darwin Nunez for €75million (£64m) plus add-ons.
Liverpool are set to smash their transfer record for the signing of the 22-year-old, who will overtake Virgil van Dijk as the most expensive player in the club’s history, after the Portuguese giants confirmed the deal.
The Primeira Liga side released a statement announcing they had agreed the transfer of the striker with the Reds in a £64m, deal including add-ons that could see the fee rise to €100m (£85m).
Liverpool have reached an agreement with Benfica over the transfer of Darwin Nunez
The Portuguese giants released a statement confirming the £64million fee which could rise to £85m
The Uruguayan will overtake Virgil van Dijk as the most expensive player in the club’s history
Benfica added that the deal now rests on the player confirming personal terms with Liverpool.
In a statement, Benfica said: ‘SAD informs the Securities Market Commission (CMVM), under the terms and for the purpose in article 248-A, that it has reached an agreement with Liverpool FC for the transfer of all rights to the player Darwin Nunez for the amount of €75million.
‘The agreement includes add-ons, so the total amount of the sale could reach €100m.
‘It also informs that said agreement is dependent on the conclusion of contract of the player with Liverpool FC.’
The Primeira Liga club added that the deal now rests on the player confirming personal terms
The fee was agreed in the early hours of Monday morning and Liverpool are yet to confirm the deal.
Sportsmail reported that Liverpool sporting director Julian Ward had been in Lisbon over the weekend for talks with his Benfica counterpart Pedro Marques for the Uruguay international.
It was reported that Liverpool would pay an initial £64m with a further £12.8m payable on appearances and then an additional £8.5m linked to the success of Jurgen Klopp’s team.
The transfer includes add-ons dependent on the success of Jurgen Klopp’s side
From the player’s point of view, personal terms have been agreed and Nunez – who was also wanted by Atletico Madrid and turned down offers from Newcastle and West Ham in January – will sign a six-year contract, worth more than £6m per year.
The 22-year-old is currently in Madrid and provided there are no late twists, he could begin his medical on Monday.
Nunez represents another quality addition to an attacking line already filled with talent, having scored 34 goals in 41 matches across all competitions for the Portuguese giants last season.
The Uruguayan – who idolises former Reds striker and international team-mate Luis Suarez – also netted six goals in last season’s Champions League, including two at the quarter-finals stage against Jurgen Klopp’s men.
Two of Nunez’s six goals in last season’s Champions League were against the Anfield side
The German boss was left impressed by what he saw and could now deploy the forward – who can play on the left of an attacking three as well as through the middle – in between January recruit Luis Diaz and star man Mohamed Salah.
Liverpool have a good relationship with Nunez’s agents Gestifute – who also represent Fabinho, Diogo Jota and Fabio Carvalho at Anfield – and are impressed with the improvement Klopp has brought from their clients.
The Reds boss said in April of Nunez: ‘A good looking boy, huh? And a decent player as well! Really good, really good. I knew before, of course, but he played pretty much in front of me with his tough battles with Ibrahima Konate.
He now looks set to play in between Luis Diaz (back) and Mohamed Salah (front) at Anfield
‘He was physically strong, quick, was calm around his finish. Good, really good. I always say in these situations if he is healthy, it’s a big career ahead of him.’
Nunez – who rejected a lucrative offer from Newcastle in January to move to the Premier League – was also interesting Atletico Madrid and Manchester United.
He started his career at Penarol in Uruguay, before moving to Almeria – who will receive 20 per cent of the fee Benfica collect – in 2019. But just a year later he signed a five-year deal at Benfica, where he scored 48 goals in 85 games.
Nunez’s arrival at Anfield will pave the way for Mane to join Bayern Munich in the coming weeks.
Nunez’s arrival at Anfield could pave the way for Sadio Mane to join Bayern Munich
The 30-year-old has one year left on his contract at Anfield and is said to be pushing for the move to the Bundesliga giants, hinting after the Champions League final that he was keen for a new challenge this summer
Liverpool have already rejected two bids from the German champions and Bayern are believed to be around £8.5million short of the Reds’ £42.5m valuation of the star attacker, with talks between both parties continuing.
The German side’s latest bid was worth £30m and had been tabled on Wednesday, although their initial package was raised from £21.5m to £23.5m.
The other £6.5m was set to only come outright if Mane won the Champions League three times at the Allianz Arena in addition to as many Ballon d’Or awards.
The German champions are trying to get £43m from Barcelona for Robert Lewandowski and Liverpool believe that figure is reflective of Mane’s worth. The Catalan giants, intriguingly, are also interested in the ex-Southampton forward.
Despite rejecting Bayern’s advances so far, Klopp’s side now appear to have prepared for Mane’s exit with Nunez’s arrival.
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