Rijo Sam Daniel
Benfica line up Sasa Kalajdzic as Darwin Nunez replacement amidst serious Manchester United transfer interest
According to The Athletic (Subscription Required), Benfica have lined up a replacement for Darwin Nunez as Manchester United have shown ‘serious interest’ in signing him. He has enjoyed quite a rapid rise this season which has seen him become one of the most wanted strikers in Portugal right now.
Nunez is expected to leave the Portuguese side at the end of the season, with Man United being very keen to get their hands on the attacker. He is currently valued at a fee of around €60million, which is much lower compared to the price that was mentioned in the past.
The Portuguese outfit has identified Stuttgart’s Sasa Kalajdzic as a replacement as they are heavily contemplating targeting him this summer. He could command a fee in the region of €25million, which is considerably lower than Nunez’s asking price. The Red Devils have been handed a boost by this update, but whether they can take advantage or not remains to be seen.
Man Utd to make their move?
This latest update can mean that Roger Schmidt’s side is expecting Nunez to leave at the end of the current campaign. The Manchester club would be wise to ramp up their efforts to facilitate a transfer, especially if they are seriously interested in securing his services.
The Mancunians have been given more initiative to make their move this summer with the current quoted valuation below the figures that were mentioned earlier. It would be in their best interest to take that decision, considering how they need someone to spearhead their project in the long term under incoming boss Erik ten Hag.
After all, Cristiano Ronaldo is nearing the end of his playing career, and he would not offer long term solidity in the attack. Edinson Cavani is nearing the end of his contract, and he has warranted enough in the second season for the club to renew his deal and keep him for longer.
Marcus Rashford has failed to get back to his best following the surgery he underwent at the start of this term. As for Anthony Martial, he has largely struggled to make a significant impact during his loan spell, with Sevilla further calling for the need for an attacking reinforcement. Meanwhile, Mason Greenwood continues to be suspended.
Nunez could be the man to lead United’s attack, but the likes of Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Brighton & Hove Albion and Southampton could pose issues for Man United. These four clubs are interested in Kalajdzic, which could trouble us if Benfica fail to get their hands on him.
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Stuttgart are also trying to renew Kalajdzic as he is close to entering the final year of his current contract. Fortunately, it is claimed that he could still depart even after an extension which bodes well for our pursuit of Nunez.
The Uruguayan striker is young and has shown in the UEFA Champions League that he can hold his own against some of Europe’s best teams. If the move doesn’t hurt the long or short-term financial health of the club, United would be wise to try their level best and bring him in.
