The end of the 2021-22 season was not what Liverpool wanted, with the team losing both the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League titles. Those losses have caused the Reds to evaluate their options to rejuvenate the team, and with Sadio Mané willing to leave the club for good this summer, the team's hierarchy has already named the man who could replace the footballer on the long run.
According to The Times, Liverpool are ready to let Mané leave this summer for the right fee, especially after turning down an offer by Bayern München. When the time comes and Mané eventually leaves the club, the Reds will make a bid for Benfica's ace Darwin Núñez, one of the most interesting players in the world.
Liverpool's desire to hire Núñez was enhanced once the club saw what he could do up close in their UEFA Champions League meeting this season, where the South American scored two of Benfica's four goals against The Reds, including one in their 3-3 draw at Anfield. Having the chance to see his skills in front of his would-be home crowd was the main reason for Liverpool to pursue this signing in the ongoing transfer window.
Despite Liverpool's interest to make the deal, there are some issues that need to be sorted out before the Reds enter negotiations with their Portuguese counterparts. The first one would be reaching an agreement for Mané's departure, mainly because Liverpool would not like to hire Núñez if there were too many strikers in the team's squad.
The other issue to sort out would be the potential transfer fee. The report by The Times suggests that Liverpool will not pay an excessive amount to hire the Uruguayan, even if coach Klopp has named him as a priority to boost the team's attack.
As things stand, Manchester United, Arsenal, and Chelsea have all been named as potential landing spots for Núñez, although Liverpool's recent success and constant involvement in title races could see them score a strategic signing such as this one.
