Man Utd have ‘financial capacity’ to make €100m star Ten Hag’s ‘reference’ but Liverpool want him too

Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag wants to make Benfica striker Darwin Nunez his marquee signing this summer, according to reports in Portugal.

The Uruguay international has been in sensational form this season for the Portuguese side, scoring 34 goals in 41 appearances in all competitions.

Nunez scored 16 goals in 32 matches for Spanish side Almeria to earn himself the move to Benfica in 2020 and, after just six league goals last season, he has really exploded this year.

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That has led to admiring glances from clubs around Europe this season with Man Utd, Liverpool, Arsenal, West Ham and Newcastle the main clubs linked over the past few months.

Speaking earlier this month, respected journalist Fabrizio Romano insisted that any club interested in buying Nunez would have to make an offer “around €75-80m” to open negotiations.

“It will depend on the price because, for example, in January on deadline day, West Ham made a proposal of €45m (£39m) and it was turned down because Benfica wanted €55m (£47m),” Romano told the Wondergoal podcast.

“Now I think with €55m, you are absolutely not buying him. So, what is needed is around €75-80m (£64m-£68m) million for Darwin Nunez, to open negotiations with Benfica.

“He now has a new agent that is really close to Jorge Mendes so it’s gonna change the future of the player.”

“So, everything is absolutely open but I’m sure Darwin will be ready to leave Benfica in the summer and make a big move in the summer.”

And now Portuguese newspaper Record (via Sport Witness) claims that Man Utd are ‘running on sidelines’ to land Nunez with Liverpool and Real Madrid – who contest the Champions League final on Saturday – two