Krishnan Sreekumar
Transfer News: Manchester United to be given new price by Benfica to seal move for striker Darwin Nunez
According to Portuguese outlet Record (h/t Express), Benfica are set to slap a fresh price tag on striker Darwin Nunez this summer, with Manchester United sniffing around for the forward as they look to shore up their attacking options ahead of next season.
United currently boast two of the best strikers in recent decades in the form of Cristiano Ronaldo and Edinson Cavani. However, there are concerns about how long the pair will last at the club, given that Ronaldo is 37 and Cavani is 35 years old.
To make things worse, Ronaldo is going through a bit of a rough patch as he has failed to find the back of the net often this season while Cavani has a majority of the Red Devils’ games through injury. The players are in danger of looking like yesteryear stars rather than forwards the club can currently rely on.
Given this, United’s interest in Nunez is hardly surprising. At 22, the striker has years of football left in him and the Manchester club will look to sign someone who can continue to lead the line for the side in the foreseeable future.
Bumper summer transfer
The player will definitely not come cheap in the summer, as Nunez has a jaw-dropping £125m buyout clause in his contract with Benfica. Although the Primeira Liga side has not set a price tag for the player as of yet, it is said that the Portuguese giants will allow the player to leave if the price is matched.
Concerns could be raised about the side spending such a huge price for a player that neither has much experience playing at the very top level nor has any Premier League experience. Players coming to England can struggle to adapt to the game, and the top-flight is unforgiving in that respect.
A striker is more of a necessity than a luxury at Old Trafford, given the struggles in the team this season. Multiple games have ended in a draw, all because the forwards in the squad could not apply finishing touches and put the ball in the back of the net.
It was even more frustrating the previous weekend, as the Manchester club was unable to score a single goal past a relegation-threatened Watford side at home, despite multiple chances being created. The club is crying out for a finisher in the squad. Mason Greenwood continues to be suspended while Anthony Martial’s loan move to Sevilla speaks volumes about where he stands in the pecking order at Old Trafford now.
More Manchester United News
- Manchester United looking to keep forwards Cristiano Ronaldo and Anthony Martial beyond the summer
- Juventus earmark Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba as their primary target for the summer transfer window
- Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick has doubts regarding forward Cristiano Ronaldo
The Uruguay international has scored 20 goals in the league this term, while also adding three goals in the Champions League. Those are incredible numbers for a rather young striker, and he could be ready to take a leap in his professional career.
United offer him this platform, being arguably one of the biggest clubs in the world and boasting several talented stars in the squad. With world-class players around him, there is no telling where Nunez could reach if he chooses to swap Lisbon for Manchester in the summer.
