For a while now, Darwin Núñez has been mentioned as one of the main striker targets Manchester United have been looking at. He joined Benfica in the summer of 2020 for around €24m and looks all set for a move this summer.
According to a report by Uruguayan journalist Sebas Giovanelli, Manchester United and Newcastle United are the two clubs who are bidding for Núñez and are the closest to signing him as things stand.
The context which makes this information worth paying a lot more attention to is the fact that Giovanelli was among the very first journalists to talk about Manchester United offering a 5-year contract to Uruguayan youngster Facundo Pellistri back in the summer of 2020, before they eventually went on to sign the player.
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This is potentially an indicator of the fact that he is someone worth paying attention to when it comes to Uruguayan players.
Núñez has been mentioned a lot in relation to Manchester United this summer. A while ago, the reliable David Ornstein reported that United were among the three frontrunners to sign the player this summer - following it up almost a month later with a report where he mentioned that a deal could also be ultimately done around a price point of €60m.
Jorge Mendes will be heavily involved in any move for the player, and according to Laurie Whitwell, he has told Benfica he can get them €80m for the player - a price United are apparently not willing to pay immediately, which would imply a need for some negotiating if a move was to ultimately go through.
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This point of view was echoed by talkSPORT, who mentioned that United were pursuing a deal to sign Darwin Núñez, but that Benfica had put a £68m (around €80m) price tag on him. Interestingly though, they went on to mention that the player was keen to be a part of new manager Erik ten Hag's plans at Old Trafford.
United might want to add quickly, though, with the reliable Paul Joyce talking about Liverpool's interest in Núñez as a potential replacement option for Sadio Mane if the latter was to leave for Bayern Munich this summer.
Featured Image Credit: AlamyTopics: Benfica, Manchester United, Manchester United Transfer News & Rumours, Darwin Nunez