Darwin Nunez May Be Forced To Wait For His Two Favourite Shirt Numbers If He Joins Liverpool

Liverpool are closing in on the signing of Darwin Nunez from Benfica but the striker may be forced to wait for his favourite shirt numbers at Anfield.

According to Portuguese outlet O Jogo, Benfica have already accepted a huge bid from Liverpool for the Uruguay international.

The Premier League club are set to pay an initial £68.5m fee for the striker which could potentially rise to £85m with add-ons.

Nunez wears the No 9 shirt for Benfica and No 11 for Uruguay (Image: PA)

Nunez, 22, is said to be keen to join Liverpool after scoring twice against the Reds in the quarter-finals of last season's Champions League.

Should he arrive on Merseyside this summer, Nunez may have to wait to wear one of his two preferred shirt numbers.

The number nine shirt that he wears at Benfica is currently worn by Liverpool striker Roberto Firmino, who is expected to remain at Anfield despite entering the final year of his contract.

Nunez also wears the number 11 shirt while playing for Uruguay but that is currently held at Liverpool by Mohamed Salah.

Those two numbers are worn by Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino at Liverpool (Image: PA)

Salah is out of contract in the summer of 2023 but has already confirmed he plans to remain at Liverpool for at least another season, with negotiations ongoing over an improved deal for the Egyptian.

However, one potential option for Nunez is the number 10 shirt, currently worn by Sadio Mane.

The Senegal international looks likely to leave Liverpool for Bayern Munich this summer.

The German champions have already had a £30m bid rejected by Liverpool for Mane, with the Merseyside club valuing him at £43m.

Nunez could take the No 10 shirt if Sadio Mane leaves this summer (Image: PA)

Should he leave Anfield, it would allow Nunez to take the number 10 shirt previously worn by the likes of John Barnes, Michael Owen and Philippe Coutinho.

A versatile forward that can play on the left as well as through the middle, Nunez scored 34 goals in 41 games in all competitions last season.

In total, he has managed 47 goals in 84 games for Benfica since joining the Portuguese club from Spanish side Almeria in 2020.