Liverpool reach agreement with Benfica to sign Darwin Nunez with transfer imminent

Liverpool have reached an agreement with Benfica to sign Darwin Nunez.

The Portuguese giants have officially announced the two clubs have agreed a €75million (around £64m) transfer fee for the Uruguayan forward, 22, with the figure rising to €100m (around £85.3m) with add-ons. The fee was agreed in the early hours of Monday morning and Liverpool are yet to announce the news.

The transfer is now expected to be completed and announced on Monday. Nunez has just completed a prolific season at Benfica, scoring 34 goals and providing four assists in 41 appearances. The former Almeria ace has 11 senior caps at international level.

"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 €75m," read an official Benfica statement.

"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 €100m. It is further informed that the aforementioned agreement is dependent on the signing of the player's sports employment contract with Liverpool FC."

Nunez impressed Jurgen Klopp after scoring in both legs of Benfica's Champions League quarter-final against Liverpool last season. He was linked with rivals Manchester United for several months, yet the Merseyside club have won the transfer race on this occasion.

Nunez's arrival at Anfield will pave the way for Mane to join Bayern Munich in the coming weeks. The Senegal international, 30, has just one year left on his contract and it's believed he wants to move to Bavaria.