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Blow for Man United as lack of UCL could dampen chances of landing prolific striker

Manchester United blow in Darwin Nunez transfer race as Benfica striker will only ‘join Champions League club’.
Manchester United blow in Darwin Nunez transfer race as Benfica striker will only ‘join Champions League club’. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Manchester United blow in Darwin Nunez transfer race as Benfica striker will only ‘join Champions League club’

According to the i (h/t The Sun), Benfica striker Darwin Nunez wants to move to a Champions League-qualified club next season, which could provide a transfer blow to Manchester United who were looking to sign him.

The Red Devils are currently in the seventh position in the Premier League table, with the side sitting six points off fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur, who stand to play UCL football next term if they end the season in that position.

Apart from Spurs, United also face competition for a top-four finish in the league table from West Ham United and Arsenal, with the Gunners also able to extend their advantage over the Manchester side because they have a game in hand to utilise.

Manchester United blow in Darwin Nunez transfer race as Benfica striker will only ‘join Champions League club'. (Photo by CARLOS COSTA/AFP via Getty Images)
Benfica are ready to sell Darwin Nunez for £68m. (Photo by CARLOS COSTA/AFP via Getty Images)

A lack of goals this campaign has led to the Old Trafford outfit reaching this low position, and this is where the presence of someone like Nunez in our ranks next season could solve this problem. The 22-year-old has enjoyed a breakout season for Benfica this time around.

“He shapes us well”

The Uruguayan has been tipped for a move away from The Eagles, with the player available to interested clubs for a transfer price of £68m. The fee to prise the striker from Benfica may seem huge, but a look at his records in the Primeira Liga and the UEFA Champions League speak for themselves.

A top Premier League source declared that Nunez will only join a side playing in the UCL next season, which could come as a big blow to United if they fail to climb up the league table and secure the fourth spot.

 “In every metric he shapes up well. He’s good in the air, great decision maker, he’s mobile, tactically superb and embraces the fight. He’ll be going to a Champions League club.”

Manchester United blow in Darwin Nunez transfer race as Benfica striker will only ‘join Champions League club’.  (Photo by JOHN THYS/AFP via Getty Images)
Manchester United could lose in the race to sign Benfica striker Darwin Nunez as he wants to move to a Champions League club. (Photo by JOHN THYS/AFP via Getty Images)

Despite boasting of a squad that had big names like Cristiano Ronaldo, Edinson Cavani, Bruno Fernandes, and Jadon Sancho this season, United have been terribly disappointing in terms of attack. They are winless in April thus far, unable to put enough goals past their opponents and claim all three points.

Their inability to either hold on to a slender lead or re-take it after going behind to the opposition has seen them drop crucial points and slip down the league table. Our attackers have been unreliable, despite the experience that they have in England and in Europe.

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Ronaldo has failed to gel with the way United want to play, causing them to look at other options who are more able to press from the front. In young Nunez, they could not only get a player that could run a lot to offer more pressing to the team, but also identify a long-term replacement for someone like Ronaldo, who is now 37 years old.

However, for any of these dreams to be realised, the minimum requirement to approach Nunez should be to qualify for the Champions League next season. This can only be achieved by winning all our remaining games for the campaign, and hope that some of our immediate neighbours drop a few points along the way.

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