Liverpool were in need of a refresh up front, Jamie Carragher insists, with the club set to unveil Darwin Nunez… as Reds legend points to them getting their recruitment ‘right’ when spending ‘big’
- Darwin Nunez will soon be officially unveiled by Liverpool in a club-record deal
- Benfica have already confirmed an agreement was reached over the forward
- Jamie Carragher says Nunez would slot straight into the Reds’ best front three
- He has also praised the Anfield outfit for splashing the cash wisely in the past
Jamie Carragher admitted Liverpool were in need of a refresh for their usual attacking trio with the club set to announce the signing of Darwin Nunez, and believes they have got their recruitment ‘right’ when splashing the cash in the past.
The transfer has already been confirmed from Benfica’s side, after they announced in a statement that Nunez would move for for €75million (£64m) plus add-ons that could see the overall fee rise to a staggering €100m (£85m), an Anfield record.
His arrival is poised to offset the expected departure of Sadio Mane, with Bayern Munich still locked in talks over the 30-year-old’s services, and Reds legend Carragher would already put his potential replacement in Jurgen Klopp’s best XI.
Darwin Nunez is set to be officially unveiled by Liverpool in a club-record deal from Benfica
Reds legend Jamie Carragher has admitted that Jurgen Klopp’s front three needed a refresh
‘I think the start of next season, Liverpool’s strongest front three would be Mo Salah, Nunez and [Luis] Diaz on the left,’ he said, speaking to Sky Sports.
Carragher has also highlighted the previous success of other players who have arrived for big fees under boss Klopp, adding: ‘Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp certainly get the recruitment right, certainly when they spend big.
‘The type of figures we’re talking here, that’s what they spent on the goalkeeper [Alisson Becker]. He’s made a huge difference.
Indeed, Carragher says that Nunez would already slot into the team’s first-choice starting XI
‘Liverpool right now do need to refresh the front line because of the age of that front three, who have been absolutely fantastic the last four or five years.
‘It is sad to see it broken up in some ways, but it had to come to an end sooner or later. With Sadio Mane looking like he’s leaving, Liverpool had to do something.
‘He’s [Nunez] the one that they’ve identified.’
Nunez will overtake Virgil van Dijk as the most expensive player in the club’s history.
Boss Klopp is set to welcome the forward in a deal that eclipses Virgil van Dijk’s £75m arrival
Benfica added that the deal now rests on the forward wrapping up personal terms with the Merseyside outfit. However, Sportsmail understands these have already been agreed, with Nunez to sign a six-year deal worth more than £6m per year.
The fee was agreed today, although Liverpool are yet to confirm the switch.
Sportsmail reported that the Reds’ sporting director Julian Ward was in Lisbon over the weekend for talks with his Benfica counterpart, Pedro Marques.
Nunez’s signing may offset Sadio Mane’s departure, with Bayern Munich in talks over him
The striker’s heart was set on a move to Klopp’s side, it is believed, and he has rebuffed fierce interest from Manchester United and Newcastle in the process.
Liverpool are expected to pay an initial £64m with a further £12.8m payable on appearances. An additional £8.5m is linked to the success of the team.
Nunez scored 34 times in 41 matches across all competitions last season, with six of his goals coming in the Champions League, including two against his new club.
Source: Daily Mail Online