Darwin Nunez tempted by Ten Hag but Champions League offers hope for Liverpool

Portugal and Benfica striker Darwin Nunez has remained coy concerning his preference among the plethora of clubs vying for his signature, but where should he go? 

With Erling Haaland’s transfer saga decided before it began, it looks as though Benfica’s Darwin Nunez has taken over the mantle as Europe’s most highly prized striker target for those in the market to struggle over.

The Uruguayan striker enjoyed a breakout season last campaign, scoring 26 goals in just 24 starts at a frequency of one every 77 minutes, shattering his previous best tally of 6 from 19 the season prior.

As a result, Nunez has just about every club that can afford his £68m price tag registering their interest with the scope of the intrigue coming from the Premier League.

Manchester United were listed as primary candidates to secure the 22-year-old’s signature but Liverpool and Newcastle have emerged as alternate contenders.

The former’s curiosity has been sparked by Sadio Mane’s decision to leave the club following their defeat in the Champions League final against Real Madrid.

Although they usually run a tight ship financially, higher-ups at Anfield will be forced to invest if a player of Mane’s standing were to leave and will be helped by the money accrued in his sale.

In the money Newcastle are, as expected, being linked to every player with a price tag attached to them, but they may struggle to attract Nunez while clubs of the aforesaids’ size are sniffing around.

Darwin Nunez favouring Manchester over Liverpool?

Darwin Nunez’s train of thought among all of this is hard to come by and while away with his national team Uruguay, it will likely remain this way.

British newspaper, the i, however, reports Nunez is ‘tempted’ by recently appointed Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag’s proposed project.

The opportunity to play with Cristiano Ronaldo can’t hurt matters either, but a lack of Champions League football may prove an adverse factor.

The latter has been cited as a priority of the free-scoring forward’s in the past and is an aspect that Liverpool can not only offer but provide recent evidence of being in contention for.

Jurgen Klopp’s expertly devised squad is lacking a centre piece and Nunez’s industrious nature would certainly suit the German’s gegenpressing system.

From the Merseyside club’s perspective, the latest reports suggest an upshift in their intent to sign the UD Almeria academy product.

"“We spoke about Liverpool earlier, about Sadio Mane and would they replace him,” talkSPORT’s resident transfer expert Alex Crook said on Tuesday morning.“Darwin Nunez, there is genuine interest from Manchester United, but a deal for him is not as close as has been suggested in the Portuguese media.“I received a text message from a trustworthy source on Friday that Liverpool are genuinely contenders for him.”Via: talkSPORT"

The Darwin Nunez chase hangs in the balance and while Liverpool offer an almost certain return of trophies, their shrewd wage policy may offer their Northern rivals an edge.