Liverpool's Main Transfer Target Is Set To Have A Medical Tomorrow

Darwin Nunez is expected to begin his Liverpool medical tomorrow as the Benfica star closes in on becoming the club’s most expensive signing, according to The Times.

The player agreed terms with the Merseysiders earlier this week ahead of the move and the two clubs have come to an agreement on a deal worth £64 million, with an additional £12.8 million linked to appearances and £8.5 million based on the forward operating in a successful team.

Liverpool’s director of football, Julian Ward, was in Portugal over the weekend to negotiate with the Portuguese giants, and managed to finalise a deal which will make Nunez the most expensive player in the club’s history.

The Anfield side’s current record signing is Virgil Van Dijk, who arrived from Southampton for £75 million in 2018. With the potential add-ons, Nunez will likely exceed this sum. 

The 22-year-old forward did not feature in Uruguay’s squad for yesterday’s game against Panama, as he has travelled to Madrid where he will undergo his medical tomorrow. These medical tests could continue into Wednesday, with the deal expected to be officially announced later this week.

Benfica had initially demanded a huge transfer fee which consisted of €80 million upfront, with add-ons reaching up to €20 million. Ward, negotiating with the Benfica president, Rui Costa, and the sporting director, Rui Pedro Braz, managed to barter these demands down significantly. 

Nunez had been the subject of interest from several top European clubs, including Liverpool’s North West rivals Manchester United. The Uruguayan turned down an offer from the Red Devils, favouring a move to Anfield as he wanted to play under Jurgen Klopp and in the Champions League.

Klopp is set to lose Sadio Mane as the Senegalase international is on the verge of a switch to Bayern Munich, and the German boss identified Nunez as the ideal replacement. 

The starlet burst onto the scene in the 2021/22 campaign, scoring 34 goals in 41 appearances in all competitions for Benfica, including six in the Champions League.