Manchester United will be looking for a younger goalscorer in the summer when Edinson Cavani’s contract expires, and Benfica’s Darwin Nunez could be one player of interest.
According to Portuguese publication Record, cited by the Manchester Evening News, Nunez has changed his agent in a bid to force a move in the summer.
It is noted that the Uruguayan is interested in playing for a Champions League team, after his goal against Ajax last week sent Benfica into the quarter-finals of the competition, with both Manchester United and Manchester City said to be interested in his signature (via Daily Star).
Back in February, The Sun ran a report stating that United had scouts watching the striker so they will know all about his pedigree at this stage.
Nunez would see playing in the Europa League as a step back, but a club of United’s size would be difficult to turn down, especially when it’s inevitable that we will be back in Europe’s biggest competition at some point in the near future.
Of course, it’s still possible to achieve a top four finish this season, although Arsenal are in top form at the moment and they look like favourites for fourth place.
The Gunners have also been mentioned as one of Nunez’s admirers, as per the Evening Standard, with Transfermarkt valuing the striker at £36 million.
It would make sense for United to scout for alternatives to Erling Haaland because it looks increasingly unlikely that the Norwegian will be moving to Old Trafford anytime soon.
Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards was waxed lyrical about Nunez after watching him knock Ajax out of Europe. He believes the 22-year-old could cause problems for Liverpool in the next round of the Champions League.
“Liverpool fans will have been delighted at how the Champions League draw panned out but let me provide a word of warning,” Richards told the Daily Mail. “Darwin Nunez has caught my eye all year and he came up trumps for Benfica once again, to send them into the last-eight.
“Nunez scored his 26th goal of the season and is only 22. He is tall, strong, he runs in behind and knows how to finish.
“He’s scored against Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Ajax so far — don’t discount him doing the same against Liverpool.”
