Liverpool reach an agreement with Benfica to sign Darwin Nunez as the Portuguese giants confirm the £64m plus add-ons deal with the Uruguayan striker expected to undergo a medical on Monday
- Benfica released a statement confirming they had agreed a deal with Liverpool
- The Reds will sign Darwin Nunez for £64million which could rise to £85million
- The Portuguese club added the deal rests on Nunez confirming personal terms
- The Uruguayan international is expected to undergo a medical on Monday
Benfica have confirmed they have reached an agreement with Liverpool over the transfer of Darwin Nunez for €75million (£64m).
Liverpool are set to secure the signing of the 22-year-old, whose heart is set on a move to Merseyside after rebuffing interest from Manchester United and Newcastle United, 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
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.
Journalist Fabrizio Romano shared the statement and added that Nunez will undergo a medical today ahead of signing a deal until 2028.
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.
It is a statement of intent from Liverpool to get this deal completed so quickly and Nunez – should he hit all the targets included in the deal – will overtake Virgil van Dijk as the most expensive player in the club’s history.
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.
Despite rejecting Bayern’s advances so far, Klopp’s side now appear to have prepared for Mane’s exit with Nunez’s arrival.
