Door open for West Ham to secure Darwin Nunez deal after manager’s comments
West Ham are reportedly one of the many clubs keen to sign Darwin Nunez in the summer transfer window.
Portugal newspaper Record (12 April, page 03) claimed that the Hammers are still in the hunt to land the prolific striker after missing out on him in January.
A host of Premier League clubs including Manchester United and Chelsea are also vying for his signature [The Atheltic].
Nunez has a £125m release clause in his contract. However, Benfica are willing to negotiate for around £66m.
Nelson Verissimo, the Benfica boss, has made an honest admission. He says that the club will have to accept the fact that Nunez could leave at the end of the season.
He said, as quoted by O Jogo (13 April, page 5): “It is the law of the market. There are several players in this squad who are coveted, the coaches and the president wanted to keep them all but we are in a competitive market where clubs need capital.
“Darwin has had a great evolution this season, he has an innate quality and if, at the end of the season, he has to leave in the interests of Benfica we have to accept that. In Portugal, we have to empower players and then there are stronger markets and leagues. That’s why there are players we can’t keep.”
Nunez has managed 31 goals in all competitions this season. He is the goal machine for the club, and only Robert Lewandowski (46), Karim Benzema (37) and Sebastien Haller have scored more than him in Europe.
West Ham have been crying for a finisher like him who will add tremendous quality and depth to the side.
The Hammers simply can’t rely on Michail Antonio for an entire season, without a proper back-up.
The striker could be tempted to join a club that can offer him Champions League football, but the Hammers can pitch their vision to him in a different way.
It also means signing him would require West Ham to break their transfer record, but he is a player worth taking a gamble on.
In other West Ham news, the Hammers have scouted a £20m-rated “Dangerous” British striker and want to seal a permanent move this summer.
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