Benfica have officially confirmed that a deal has been agreed for the transfer of Darwin Nunez to Liverpool for an initial fee of €75m (£64.1m).
The Uruguay international has been on the radar of several top clubs around Europe after registering 34 goals in 41 games across all competitions for the Portuguese giants last term.
Nunez finished as top scorer in the 2021-22 Primeira Liga season with 26 strikes from 28 matches - six clear of closest challenger Mehdi Taremi in the Golden Boot charts.
Nunez also struck six goals in 10 Champions League matches to help Benfica reach the quarter-finals of the tournament, where they were eliminated by Liverpool despite the 22-year-old's further strikes in either leg.
The likes of Manchester United, Newcastle United, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City have all been linked with Nunez at one stage or another, although the latter instead opted to bring Erling Braut Haaland to the club from Borussia Dortmund.
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With Man United not having the advantage of Champions League football, Liverpool quickly gained the upper hand in negotiations and are due to welcome Nunez to Anfield imminently.
A statement released by Benfica in the early hours of Monday morning confirmed that Nunez would be leaving the club for Liverpool, and the Reds could end up forking out a club-record €100m (£85.4m) if all add-ons are met.
"In the early morning hours of this Monday (0:44 am), Sport Lisboa e Benfica – Futebol, SAD informed the Securities Market Commission (CMVM) that it had reached an agreement with Liverpool FC for the sale of all rights to the player Darwin Nunez, for the amount of 75 million euros," the statement read.
"To the CMVM, Benfica's SAD also informed that 'the agreement provides for the payment of a variable remuneration, so the global amount of the sale could reach the amount of 100 million euros'.
"'It is further informed that the aforementioned agreement is dependent on the signing of the player's sports employment contract with Liverpool FC', it is further explained in the official document."
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Nunez prepares to leave Benfica having registered 47 goals and 16 assists in 84 matches for the Portuguese giants since arriving from Almeria for a £21.6m fee in the summer of 2020.
The former Penarol youngster was absent from Uruguay's win over Panama at the weekend while negotiations with Liverpool continued, and he is thought to be preparing to sign a six-year deal at Anfield.
Nunez will undergo his Liverpool medical on Monday ahead of an official announcement from Liverpool, and he arrives on Merseyside following the exit of Divock Origi as a free agent.
Nunez's arrival could also open the door for Sadio Mane to complete an anticipated move away from the club, with the Senegal international out of contract in 12 months time, although Bayern Munich are still falling short of Liverpool's asking price and are said to have had two bids already rejected.
Roberto Firmino's deal is also up in the summer of 2023, while Takumi Minamino will supposedly be allowed to leave the club for a £17m fee in the coming weeks.
Ben Knapton
