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
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.