Manchester United’s ‘opening bid’ for Darwin Nunez was reportedly rejected by Benfica, with the Red Devils apparently asked to raise their offer by just £8.5 million to complete the deal.
The Uruguayan international has risen to the top of Erik ten Hag’s striker wishlist and is poised to leave Lisbon this summer.
Liverpool, Atletico Madrid, and Newcastle are among the clubs rumored to be interested in the center-forward, who has scored 34 goals in all competitions this season.
According to Correio de Manha, United made their first offer for the player in the last few days, for an estimated £89 million (a deal including Andreas Pereira). It’s believed that £64 million was put up a front, plus roughly £17 million in bonuses.
However, after rejecting the offer, Portuguese journalist Paulo Catarro has disclosed that Benfica wants more money. According to reports in Portugal, £8.5 million could be enough to close the deal.
Ten Hag is looking to bring in some competition and cover for Cristiano Ronaldo this summer, so a new striker is one of United’s top targets.
Also, West Ham had previously made a club-record bid for Darwin Nunez, but Benfica rejected the offer. Nunez’s worth has continued to skyrocket, and they are likely to reap the benefits of their tough negotiations.
