How Liverpool & Darwin Nunez will be the first domino in a crazy transfer summer

9 Jun 2022 23:03 BST
3 min read

Darwin Nunez, Benfica, 2021/22 — © ProShots

Liverpool's €100 million deal for Darwin Nunez could be the catalyst to a flurry of transfer activity among Europe's top clubs.

As FootballTransfers exclusively revealed, the 22-year-old has agreed personal terms to join the English side and it is believed that a host of other moves could follow once the deal is confirmed.

Article continues under the video

Barcelona and Bayern Munich are among the sides who could benefit from Liverpool's outlay, particularly with both being in the market for a forward.

What deals could progress if Liverpool sign Nunez?

Nunez's arrival at Anfield would all but pave the way for Sadio Mane's exit, with the Senegalese international looking to join Bayern.

Liverpool have been in negotiations with Bayern over a €30m deal for Mane and they are believed to be using the fee as part of the funding for Nunez.

Bayern have lined up Mane as a replacement for talismanic striker Robert Lewandowski, who is looking to force a move to Barcelona.

Lewandowski, 33, also has a year left on his contract but has no intention of seeing it out and wants the club to allow him to move to Spain for a new challenge.

The club are still hoping to change the mind of their long-serving striker, particularly as Barcelona's financial issues means they are unable to pay Bayern's reported €40m asking price.

However, as the German outfit have identified Mane as their primary target, they may choose to submit to Lewandowski's demands in order to move on from the drawn out saga.

Robert Lewandowski is REALLY not happy with the treatment he's had at Bayern Munich 😳 pic.twitter.com/9GGuEdYUKN
— GOAL (@goal) June 7, 2022

Although, if Bayern refuse to budge on their demands, Barcelona may look to raise money quickly to complete the deal, with Lewandowski having already agreed personal terms.

The easiest path to a cash injection would be sanctioning the sale of Frenkie De Jong to Manchester United, with the English side alleged to have made a bid in excess of €60m.

United, meanwhile, have made a last-ditch attempt to steal Nunez from Liverpool and are rumoured to be meeting with his agent for negotiations.

The ironic twist of fate could see United play a huge part in the saga irrespective of the Uruguayan's destination, with a move for De Jong certainly likely to progress if Nunez joins Liverpool.