Benfica are now demanding £70 million for Champions League hero Darwin Nunez with Record casting doubt on West Ham or Newcastle United’s chances of signing the prolific striker.
Jose Mourinho made a few strange decisions during his time as Tottenham Hotspur manager. But choosing Carlos Vinicius over Darwin Nunez may be the oddest of the lot.
According to The Mail, Mourinho turned down the chance to bring Nunez to North London in the summer of 2020, opting for Vinicius instead. Less than two years later, the latter is being forced to live off scraps at PSV Eindhoven, playing just five minutes of last week’s 1-0 win at FC Utrecht.
Nunez, in contrast, took his tally to 26 in 33 games with a dramatic winner during Benfica’s shock Champions League triumph over Ajax in midweek.
“All this decision-making ability, finishing and speed…” Jesus began.
“He was Benfica’s most expensive signing. And he will be our most expensive sale. He will be a world-class player.”
Joao Felix is currently the biggest export in Benfica’s history, joining Atletico Madrid for £107 million. So that was some statement.
‘No’ to Newcastle and West Ham?
According to Record, anyone looking to sign Nunez this summer won’t have to break into nine-figures. But they will have to part with £70 million.
It’s a measure of the remarkable financial might displayed by those new Saudi Arabian owners that Newcastle United – a post-Mike Ashley Newcastle United – cannot be ruled out of the race for Nunez at this stage.
According to iNews, the Magpies are stepping up their pursuit of an instinctive goal-poacher often likened to fellow Uruguayan Edinson Cavani.
According to Record, however, Nunez has his heart set on an established European giant. A Manchester City, for instance. A Real Madrid or a Bayern Munich.
West Ham reportedly offered £50 million in January. But it is understood that Nunez was never really interested in joining Declan Rice at the London Stadium.
Does this rule out Newcastle too? The Magpies have money to burn and the ambition to match. But Champions League football and silverware remains little more than a pipe dream.
For now, anyway.
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