NUNEZ NEGOTIATION Darwin Nunez moves closer to Liverpool transfer but the Reds and Benfica still haggling over add-ons for £68m star

DARWIN NUNEZ has moved a step closer to joining Liverpool from Benfica.

Posted Friday, June 10, 2022 by Thesun.co.uk

But there is still haggling to be done over the deal’s structure and ultimate cost.

NUNEZ NEGOTIATION Darwin Nunez moves closer to Liverpool transfer but the Reds and Benfica still haggling over add-ons for £68m star
Darwin Nunez is edging closer towards a move to Liverpool Credit: AFP

SunSport revealed the Reds would pay £68million up front for the striker, 22.

But while Uruguayan Nunez is understood to have agreed personal terms on a five-year deal, there is still no agreement over potential add-ons.

The Portuguese club want up to a further £17m dependent on appearances, goals and trophies won by the 34-goal star.

Kop owners FSG accept they may end up spending more than the £75m club-record fee paid for Virgil van Dijk — but hope to strike a compromise that keeps the total cost to £80m at most for the Manchester United target.

While nothing has been signed Nunez is expected to arrive on a five – year contract worth a minimum of £150,000 a week.

Nunez, who scored a goal in each of last season’s Champions League quarter final ties against Liverpool, is about to become Portugal’s most expensive export.

Manchester United, Newcastle and Atletico Madrid wanted him.

With Sadio Mane wanted by Bayern Munich, Jurgen Klopp - already a big admirer of the front man - decided to move fast to ensure his capture.

And Nunez, in private discussions with Klopp, made it clear Anfield would be his chosen destination.

Providing the fine details of the transfer can be sorted he will arrive no matter whether Mane moves to the Bundesliga or not.

Liverpool have so far knocked back two bids from Bayern, the second of them £30m plus add – ons for the Senegal star.

Mane only has one year left of his Kop deal but his current club are still holding out for at least a total of £40m for the star, 30, who cost them £34m from Southampton six years ago.

Meanwhile, Liverpool have confirmed that striker Divock Origi is leaving as a free agent.

The Belgian front man spent seven years at the club and boss Klopp declared him “a legend” after scoring twice in the Champions League semi-finals against Barcelona while also netting against Tottenham in the 2019 final.

He has been released along with goalkeeper Loris Karius, whose last appearance was in 2018 Champions League final.

Joining them in leaving are Sheyi Ojo and one-time Welsh wonderboy Ben Woodburn.