According to Fichajes, Benfica has placed an €80 million price stage on Darwin Nunez as Manchester City and Arsenal show interest. Both English clubs are in need of a striker at the moment. Moreover, Nunez has emerged as a target for many more elite clubs in Europe’s top five leagues.
The 22-year-old striker has scored 18 goals in 21 appearances in all competitions this season. He has scored 13 goals in 13 matches in Primeira Liga and has helped Benfica to compete with their rivals Porto and Sporting Lisbon. Moreover, he has become an important part of the Benfica squad.
Arsenal is experiencing a shortage of strikers at the moment. Lacazette’s contract expires in the summer of next year. Furthermore, Nketiah is likely to leave the club due to a lack of game time. Aubameyang has lost his place in the squad due to disciplinary issues and is also likely to leave. The Gunners must sign a striker as soon as possible to be in the race for the top four.
Manchester City just departed Sergio Aguero and is left with Gabriel Jesus. However, Pep Guardiola is deploying the number 9 as a wide attacker and Jesus is also playing well on the flanks. Therefore, Guardiola is sticking to the false-9 tactic this season but he needs a striker to finish easy chances and play out a different system.
What can Darwin Nunez provide Manchester City and Arsenal?
Darwin Nunez is a very strong physical player. His great physique shows great posture and strength and his great height are the main feature of this striker. In addition, these physical features are complemented with great speed and acceleration. He has very similar characteristics to Erling Haaland. As a result, many other clubs are also interested in signing the Benfica star.
Most importantly, he has good awareness, scans space, and makes solid decisions. His runs can either get him in good positions or help his teammates to be in a better position. Darwin poses a dual-threat while making runs, his lengthy movements into space are dangerous due to their power and directness. Whereas, his small movements around the box are valuable due to their disruption and distraction potential.
The variety of circumstances from which the 21-year-old shoots is an advantage of his movement. Darwin has the presence, instinct, and improvisation to get shots from a variety of situations, including counter-attacks, runs behind defenses, fast-moving into the box, dribbles, carries, crosses, cut-backs, set-pieces, and defensive errors.
Arsenal and Manchester City should not give up on signing the Uruguayan international. Although both teams face good competition against each other, the one who gets the player may enjoy a lot more success in the later stages. Moreover, it will also be tough for both the clubs as Benfica has not ruled out the possibility of a new contract. Hence, both the clubs will have to be aware of what they are offering the player and his club.
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