Who is Darwin Nunez and what does his transfer mean for Liverpool?

Liverpool are close to announcing the potential club-record transfer of Benfica striker Darwin Nunez.

The 22-year-old, who has already agreed personal terms on a six-year contract, is likely to join this week for an initial fee of £64million, with a possible £12.8m payable in appearance-related add-ons and £8.5m depending on team success.

If all conditions are met the total fee for the Uruguay international would be just over £85m and would therefore eclipse the £75m Liverpool paid Southampton for Virgil Van Dijk in January 2018.

Here the PA news agency takes a closer look at the transfer and what it means.

Nunez joined Spanish second division side Almeria for £3.4m in August 2019. After 16 goals in his first season Benfica swooped to sign him for £20m, although Almeria inserted a 20 per cent sell-on clause which is set to pay huge dividends now.

Troubled by a knee issue he scored only six goals in his maiden campaign in Portugal and missed the 2021 Copa America to have surgery to rectify the problem. He returned a different player with 26 goals in 24 league starts last season, plus six goals in six Champions League starts – including in each of their quarter-final legs against Liverpool.

With his 23rd birthday just a few days away Nunez still has some rough edges but Klopp and his coaching staff should be able to iron out those. He is a right-footed forward who can play up front on his own, with a partner or wide on the left, and is excellent in the air.

While he may be an immediate replacement for Bayern Munich target Sadio Mane he is probably a longer-term successor to Roberto Firmino. What he does offer Liverpool is a more clinical option through the middle. Across Europe’s big five leagues and Portugal, only Robert