Man Utd receive Darwin Nunez transfer boost as Benfica name price and find replacement

Manchester United have been handed a double boost in their transfer pursuit of Benfica striker Darwin Nunez.

The Uruguayan international is expected to be one of Europe's most sought-after strikers over the coming months after a sensational season in the Primeira Liga and Champions League and is high on United's transfer shortlist.

Nunez bagged an impressive 34 goals in all competitions this season – including in both legs of their European clash against Liverpool at the quarter-final stage, taking his goal tally in the competition to six for the campaign – while he recently handed United a transfer boost by confirming he was changing his agent this summer.

The striker finished as the top scorer in Primeira Liga despite Benfica enduring a hugely disappointing domestic campaign in which they finished a distant third to rivals FC Porto and Sporting Lisbon. He is now one of the hottest rated players in the summer transfer window with the Lisbon giants expected to cash in on his services.

Interim Benfica boss Nelson Verissimo recently claimed that an exit for Nunez was likely and while he warned that the striker would likely come at a significant cost to any buyer – with a reference to the £106million transfer fee that took Joao Felix from the club to Atletico Madrid three years ago – it is now suggested that the striker would only cost half that fee.

As reported by The Athletic, Nunez would command a fee of £51million (€60m) this summer – significantly lower than had been previously suggested. This news is likely to delight United and any other suitors as it means that the Uruguayan suddenly becomes attainable financially.

Furthermore, that report claims that Benfica have identified Austria international Sasa