Well, Darwin Nunez to Liverpool is official.
The Uruguay international has joined the Reds on a six-year contract and is the first piece of major business that the club has done under Julian Ward.
Ward has replaced Michael Edwards as Liverpool’s sporting director, following the latter’s departure upon the expiration of his contract.
And if one rumour about Nunez deal is true, the Anfield outfit remains in very safe hands.
Masterstroke
One thing about Edwards’s reign at Liverpool was the fact that he masterminded brilliant payment structures for brilliant players.
Take Thiago Alcantara for instance.
The Spain international was one of Jurgen Klopp’s best players this past season and although he cost the Merseysiders £20 million in 2020 – a bargain in itself – the club only paid £5 million up front [The Athletic].
They saved £15 million and were able to afford a £45 million sum for Diogo Jota who, like Thiago, has proven a wonderful signing by Edwards.
Unfortunately, Liverpool aren’t only paying £5 million up front for Darwin Nunez, who will cost £85 million long term.
But according to The Daily Mail, Ward has pulled an Edwards-esque piece of magic by ensuring that they’re only paying £47 million for the Uruguayan attacker this summer which, if true, will make other targets more affordable during the transfer window.
Everyone knows Edwards made some astonishingly-good deals for Liverpool, but the real genius lies in the calculations behind them and if the Reds really are only paying £47 million for Nunez up front, well Ward’s predecessor will be proud.
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