The Liverpool Thread

  • Thread starter Thread starter Steve*
  • Start date Start date
  • Replies Replies 45K
  • Views Views 4M
www.thetimes.co.uk

Darwin Núñez: Liverpool director of football flies to Portugal in effort to reduce fee

Liverpool’s director of football is in Portugal to try to persuade Benfica to lower their up-front asking price for Darwin Núñez to nearer £60 million.Julian Wa
www.thetimes.co.uk www.thetimes.co.uk

Paul Joyce
Saturday June 11 2022, 6.00pm, The Sunday Times

FOOTBALL
Darwin Núñez: Liverpool director of football flies to Portugal to complete deal
Julian Ward hopes to land the Uruguay forward for about £8 million less than Benfica’s present valuation

Liverpool’s director of football is in Portugal to try to persuade Benfica to lower their up-front asking price for Darwin Núñez to nearer £60 million.

Julian Ward’s determination to oversee a breakthrough in a deal for the Uruguay striker is such that he is now conducting face-to-face discussions with Benfica’s key decision-makers, Rui Pedro Braz and Rui Costa.

Benfica are seeking £68 million plus add-ons, which would take the total valuation of Núñez up to £85 million (about €100 million).

Liverpool will not meet that £68 million figure and negotiations are centred on persuading the Portuguese club to lower their valuation of the 22-year-old.

The Anfield club also want to ensure bonuses for Benfica are linked to future player and team achievements. As it stands, Benfica are seeking add-ons which are dependent on appearances.

With the structure of the deal outstanding, no transfer has been agreed — although Liverpool remain hopeful of signing Núñez.

There is an expectation that matters will run over into next week given a medical would also have to be arranged for the player, who has been on international duty. Contrary to reports, Liverpool have not asked for Núñez to be released from the Uruguay squad before their game with Panama on Saturday evening.

Personal terms will not be a problem and the fact that Núñez will not be one of the highest earners at the club is a reason why Liverpool will pay such a significant transfer fee.

Liverpool know the player wants to move to Anfield and join Jürgen Klopp’s side having impressed against them when scoring home and away in the quarter-final of the Champions League this season.

Manchester United have shown an interest in Núñez, but they cannot offer him Champions League football. In addition, the uncertainty of playing for Erik ten Hag, embarking on a new era at the Manchester club, is less appealing that Klopp’s Liverpool.

Before Benfica, Núñez was at Almeria, who are due to receive 20 per cent of any profit above the £20.4 million Benfica paid for him in 2020.

This week could be busy for Liverpool, with Bayern Munich set to return with a third bid for Sadio Mané, which will be more in line with their £40 million valuation of the Senegal striker. The German club have so far had bids of £25 million and £30 million rejected.

Liverpool expect to sell the Japan forward Takumi Minamino, with Monaco leading the chase for a player who is valued at £17 million. Minamino cost Liverpool £7.5 million in January 2020 due to a clause in his contract at RB Salzburg.

Meanwhile, Liverpool have bid about £4 million for the Aberdeen right back Calvin Ramsay with a further £2 million linked to add-ons for the 18-year-old. A deal has yet to be agreed with Aberdeen, who are seeking more bonuses from the proposed transfer.
 
https://twitter.com/x/status/1535955076312866817

Darwin Núñez set for medical after Liverpool agree £64m fee with Benfica
Deal could make the 22-year-old striker the most expensive player in the club’s history

Núñez, who is expected to sign a six-year contract with Liverpool, is keen to play under Klopp

Núñez, who is expected to sign a six-year contract with Liverpool, is keen to play under Klopp
PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES

Paul Joyce
,
Duncan Castles
Sunday June 12 2022, 1.00pm,
The Times

Liverpool expect to finalise a deal with Benfica worth an initial £64 million for Darwin Núñez today with the striker set to begin a medical tomorrow.

Julian Ward, Liverpool’s director of football, has been in Portugal over the weekend to thrash out the transfer which could make the 22-year-old the most expensive player in the club’s history.

Liverpool will pay €75 million (£64 million) for Núñez with a further £12.8 million potentially linked to appearances and £8.5 million based on the forward performing in a successful team.

Virgil van Dijk is at present Liverpool’s record signing, at £75 million, after his move from Southampton in 2018.

Núñez, who did not feature in the Uruguay squad for yesterday’s game with Panama, is in Madrid and Liverpool are preparing for medical tests to start tomorrow. These could continue until Wednesday.

Ward has been holding talks with Rui Costa, the Benfica president, and Rui Pedro Braz, the sporting director, in an attempt to persuade the Portuguese club to lower their guaranteed asking price of €80 million and restructure add-ons of €20 million.

That is now on the cusp of being achieved with Núñez’s desire to play for Jürgen Klopp meaning an auction did not develop, with Manchester United having also been keen on the player.

Personal terms on a six-year contract will not be a problem and the fact that Núñez will not be one of the highest earners at the club is a reason why Liverpool will pay such a significant transfer fee.

The Sunday Times understands that Klopp and Van Dijk played important roles in persuading Núñez to join, including direct conversations during April’s Champions League quarter-final between Benfica and Liverpool, in which he scored twice.

Núñez is said to consider Klopp “the best coach in the world”, and Van Dijk was so impressed with Núñez that he named him alongside Sergio Agüero, Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland as one of the most difficult strikers he had played against.

Núñez’s former club Almeria are due to receive 20 per cent of any profit above the £20.4 million Benfica paid for him in 2020.
 
Vanjagl said:
Its official pending his medical. 75m euros upfront rising to 100m.
Click to expand...

1655105953609.png


”In the early morning hours of this Monday (0:44 am), Sport Lisboa e Benfica – Futebol, SAD informed the Securities Market Commission (CMVM) that it had reached an agreement with Liverpool FC for the sale of all rights to the player Darwin Nunez, for the amount of 75 million euros.

“To the CMVM, Benfica’s SAD also informed that ‘the agreement provides for the payment of a variable remuneration, so the global amount of the sale could reach the amount of 100 million euros’.

“’It is further informed that the aforementioned agreement is dependent on the signing of the player’s sports employment contract with Liverpool FC’, it is further explained in the official document.”

Farewell and the utmost thanks King Michael.

All hail King Julian!

1655106139946.png
 
*Apologies if I'd made some of these points over the last few days. I'm slightly giddy this AM.


YES THE REDS!!!!! When we decide to make our move, we move and execute swiftly aye?

Another one in the eye for the increasingly mental, and, mercifully, increasingly fewer in number, anti-FSG brigade.

As they’ve consistently done since going all in on Jürgen, if they’ve needed to spend big, they have shown they have absolutely no qualms doing that. (Not that this is anything outside the going rate for a top young forward in today’s mad transfer market when there’s so few of them. And so many clubs in need of one. A simple case of supply and demand. But yanno’. All relative.). Superbly structured deal by Julian Ward to get iit down from what Benfica wanted to how we wanted it. Edwards has taught him well. Before this windows out, we’ll have covered the £64 M. initial fee in all likelihood with sales. Hopefully. all add-ons will be paid as that will mean our success has carried on unabated. With around £100 K P/W through 6-years contract yet again dispelling the fast fading myth that money rules ALL with players. When in truth, the right project and leaving a legacy in the game, and the best place and coach to work under to achieve that, is becoming equally, if not more, an important factor with most players today.

I’ll be honest about Núñez. Outside of seeing him first-hand the 2 Benfica games last year, I honestly know F all about him save for what I’ve read/ compilations i’ve watched the past week.

He was great at Anfield in particular. But that was effectively a dead tie already won out in Lisbon that we coasted through in third gear. So I preface any and all observations that follow with that ….. Ala Ibou, men of that size and build/ strength, shouldn’t move that fast! Great range of movement too. Particular in-to-out and back on the left. And he passed the 1-on-1 test with Alisson with flying colours. As we know week-in, week-out, very few, if any, forwards ever do that! That was what stood out on the initial live eye test to me for what ever that’s worth. 🤷🏼‍♂️ Watching subsequent compilations, it would appear he has the first touch of a donkey. Or Romelu Lukaku in football terms. But that’s well coachable and a few sessions of intense rondo's with Thiago, Fabinho and co will soon improve that. Raw but with all the traits, physically, technically and mentally, to mould into a 10-year or more #9 that would kill the fee. Something we’ve not had thus far under the German. A pure number 9. Yet another evolution and tweak to Klopps Reds. It'll be fascinating to watch the next tactical switch in this team to accommodate that. The excitement just keeps on rolling with this current group.

One of the main things that stand out too and hasn't been lost on me is how we've quietly and effectively dropped the age of our attack like the rest of the squad. Thats Díaz, Jota and Núñez, over the past 2 years, at 25, 25 and 22 years old respectively. For all the mad angst about our age up front, thats one heck of a quick way to get younger. With the super exciting Carvalho at 19 also adding to that.

It’ll be a wrench to see Sadio leave, but to get a player 8 years younger, on a similar salary, who is one of the up and coming coveted young strikers in Europe, is as good as it gets to soften that blow.

The next wave of Kloppo’s attack built with Bobby and Mo still here. Not too shabby business at all.

Superb start to Julian Ward’s tenure in the main gig. (And most important role at the football club for me as Jürgen would be nothing without top recruitment giving him the tools to work with and improve.). With, no doubt, ‘Mini Klopp’ Pep Lijnders and Vitor Matos also playing key roles with their contacts and intimate knowledge of the Portuguese game.

The King is dead. All hail King Julian!

Welcome Darwin. Can't wait to see you in action.

Now, onto the next addition in what will be a busy summer further shaping the next evolution of already one of the very best squads in World football.
 
Last edited:
Theatre of Dreams83 said:
Benfica do well getting unknown talent and getting huge fees
Click to expand...

Almeria are laughing here too.

To bag first £20 million from Benfica, and now a 20% sell-on of any profit over £20.4 million, which could ultimately net them another £12/13 million if my maths are right (which they probably aren't haha), is terrific business for a newly promoted, small team from the Spanish second division over the last 2 years.
 
Scouseinthehouse said:
*Apologies if I'd made some of these points over the last few days. I'm slightly giddy this AM.


YES THE REDS!!!!! When we decide to make our move, we move and execute swiftly aye?

Another one in the eye for the increasingly mental, and, mercifully, increasingly fewer in number, anti-FSG brigade.

As they’ve consistently done since going all in on Jürgen, if they’ve needed to spend big, they have shown they have absolutely no qualms doing that. (Not that this is anything outside the going rate for a top young forward in today’s mad transfer market when there’s so few of them. And so many clubs in need of one. A simple case of supply and demand. But yanno’. All relative.). Superbly structured deal by Julian Ward to get iit down from what Benfica wanted to how we wanted it. Edwards has taught him well. Before this windows out, we’ll have covered the £64 M. initial fee in all likelihood with sales. Hopefully. all add-ons will be paid as that will mean our success has carried on unabated. With around £100 K P/W through 6-years contract yet again dispelling the fast fading myth that money rules ALL with players. When in truth, the right project and leaving a legacy in the game, and the best place and coach to work under to achieve that, is becoming equally, if not more, an important factor with most players today.

I’ll be honest about Núñez. Outside of seeing him first-hand the 2 Benfica games last year, I honestly know F all about him save for what I’ve read/ compilations i’ve watched the past week.

He was great at Anfield in particular. But that was effectively a dead tie already won out in Lisbon that we coasted through in third gear. So I preface any and all observations that follow with that ….. Ala Ibou, men of that size and build/ strength, shouldn’t move that fast! Great range of movement too. Particular in-to-out and back on the left. And he passed the 1-on-1 test with Alisson with flying colours. As we know week-in, week-out, very few, if any, forwards ever do that! That was what stood out on the initial live eye test to me for what ever that’s worth. 🤷🏼‍♂️ Watching subsequent compilations, it would appear he has the first touch of a donkey. Or Romelu Lukaku in football terms. But that’s well coachable and a few sessions of intense rondo's with Thiago, Fabinho and co will soon improve that. Raw but with all the traits, physically, technically and mentally, to mould into a 10-year or more #9 that would kill the fee. Something we’ve not had thus far under the German. A pure number 9. Yet another evolution and tweak to Klopps Reds. It'll be fascinating to watch the next tactical switch in this team to accommodate that. The excitement just keeps on rolling with this current group.

One of the main things that stand out too and hasn't been lost on me is how we've quietly and effectively dropped the age of our attack like the rest of the squad. Thats Díaz, Jota and Núñez, over the past 2 years, at 25, 25 and 22 years old respectively. For all the mad angst about our age up front, thats one heck of a quick way to get younger. With the super exciting Carvalho at 19 also adding to that.

It’ll be a wrench to see Sadio leave, but to get a player 8 years younger, on a similar salary, who is one of the up and coming coveted young strikers in Europe, is as good as it gets to soften that blow.

The next wave of Kloppo’s attack built with Bobby and Mo still here. Not too shabby business at all.

Superb start to Julian Ward’s tenure in the main gig. (And most important role at the football club for me as Jürgen would be nothing without top recruitment giving him the tools to work with and improve.). With, no doubt, ‘Mini Klopp’ Pep Lijnders and Vitor Matos also playing key roles with their contacts and intimate knowledge of the Portuguese game.

The King is dead. All hail King Julian!

Welcome Darwin. Can't wait to see you in action.

Now, onto the next addition in what will be a busy summer further shaping the next evolution of already one of the very best squads in World football.
Click to expand...
That first touch scares me though as it's one of those things that you either have it or not. What he can improve is the rest of his game in terms of decision making and general play under Klopp. Weirdly optimistic about this but ngl its looking like one of those transfers that can either go great or immensely wrong. Now the next focus is the wage bill for me that is one of the only negatives under Edwards. It lowkey spiralled out of control with fringe players on way too much money. Players like Chambo, Phillips (love Naldini but still), that CB fella we bought in that never kicked a ball on 60k?! a week. That needs to be culled otherwise we will end up having more Salah situation were the top end of the squad can't be paid what they are worth as too many fringe players are on silly money for what they are worth to the squad.
 
Also Scouse what's your opinion on Jota as the season went by? Obviously not his biggest fan but do you see him being a key first team player come the new season? Personally would keep him as a more clinical Origi that can bully smaller teams but good god he makes me pull out my hair with how limited he is as a player. The very definition of good goalscorer but a terrible footballer. I have more faith in him clinically slotting the ball away compared to him trapping the ball and being able to pass the ball 5 yards without ******* it up lmao.
 
dilakh2 said:
Also Scouse what's your opinion on Jota as the season went by? Obviously not his biggest fan but do you see him being a key first team player come the new season? Personally would keep him as a more clinical Origi that can bully smaller teams but good god he makes me pull out my hair with how limited he is as a player. The very definition of good goalscorer but a terrible footballer. I have more faith in him clinically slotting the ball away compared to him trapping the ball and being able to pass the ball 5 yards without ******* it up lmao.
Click to expand...

My opinion is as it always was. Superb piece of the armoury. But better off the bench than starting for me ..... Right now. He's only going to get more comfortable with experience in what's expected of him so that could change.

I think you're doing him a complete disservice calling him a 'terrible' footballer mate. They'd neither have bought him nor wouldn't he survive in our squad if he was that. I get how if he's not scoring, he tends to drift in games and that perception gets levelled at him. But he's not 'terrible.' Just not elite. When he's on it and his confidence is high, he's nigh on unplayable. But when he's not, he might as well not be on the pitch. I think he's still working our system out and his role within it after what was his first real year last season after the COVID/ injury jarg year that was his first year here. It's an interesting conundrum as he's an ice cold finisher. And I honestly don't think I've ever seen a better player in red in the air. Something I never knew he possessed when he was at Wolves.

I think he'll be always be a streaky goalscorer. When he's hot, you ride the heck of him until it dry's up. And he's liable to always bag you 15-20 plus goals a season. Just they'll come in spells. And they'll be dry spells. But he's still only 25 so there's a lot of development growth to come in terms of his overall game.

Jota also played off a big man at Wolves didn't he to great effect? That might be in the thinking as we evolve again. It'll be fascinating to see the tweaks with Darwin and what way we go. Be it 4-2-3-1 coming more into play or whatever. We played a lot of 4-2-4 last year which was interesting too. The possibilities to mix it up and give the opposition even more headaches are limitless.

I don't like Diogo out on the left though. Don't quite get that. 🤷🏼‍♂️ He's a #9/ 2nd striker.
 
Last edited:
Scouseinthehouse said:
My opinion is as it always was. Superb piece of the armoury. But better off the bench than starting for me ..... Right now. He's only going to get more comfortable with experience in what's expected of him so that could change.

I think you're doing him a complete disservice calling him a 'terrible' footballer mate. They'd neither have bought him nor wouldn't he survive in our squad if he was that. I get how if he's not scoring, he tends to drift in games and that perception gets levelled at him. But he's not 'terrible.' Just not elite. When he's on it and his confidence is high, he's nigh on unplayable. But when he's not, he might as well not be on the pitch. I think he's still working our system out and his role within it after what was his first real year last season after the COVID/ injury jarg year that was his first year here. It's an interesting conundrum as he's an ice cold finisher. And I honestly don't think I've ever seen a better player in red in the air. Something I never knew he possessed when he was at Wolves.

I think he'll be always be a streaky goalscorer. When he's hot, you ride the heck of him until it dry's up. And he's liable to always bag you 15-20 plus goals a season. Just they'll come in spells. And they'll be dry spells. But he's still only 25 so there's a lot of development growth to come in terms of his overall game.

Jota also played off a big man at Wolves didn't he to great effect? That might be in the thinking as we evolve again. It'll be fascinating to see the tweaks with Darwin and what way we go. Be it 4-2-3-1 coming more into play or whatever. We played a lot of 4-2-4 last year which was interesting too. The possibilities to mix it up and give the opposition even more headaches are limitless.

I don't like Diogo out on the left though. Don't quite get that. 🤷🏼‍♂️ He's a #9/ 2nd striker.
Click to expand...
Cant complain you've said it better than me. Terrible might be a bit much but **** you hit the nail on the head that he is a streaky confident player in a nutshell. Good option in the Armoury describes him best for now.
 
https://twitter.com/x/status/1536372329357668354

Fair F's to Aberdeen for upping the stakes and trying to get what they deem the market maximum.

About time the SPL stood up for themselves more financially. The only way they are going to start improving the overall quality of the league.

I don't know anything about this lad other than the glowing reports I've read from Scotland backing up the highlights of his season suggesting he's straight out of the Trent mould. But they must rate him real high if they are prepared to pay £10 million or so for him. (Which they will. This is a done deal bar the structuring finalities.). As Connor Bradley has just come off an excellent year where he's taken a massive leap forward. Both at Liverpool and Internationally for Northern Ireland. He has the ideal skill-set we look for in our full-backs as he's as comfortable on the right wing as at right full.

So they must rate Ramsey even higher than Bradley if they are prepared to pay £10 million or so to upgrade on him.

That alone I find really intriguing on the Scottish kid.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

FMBase

Beta

Resources

Back
Top