Man Utd prepared to give up on Nunez transfer to avoid Liverpool bidding war 

Manchester United are ready to surrender in their transfer pursuit of Benfica striker Darwin Nunez as they are increasingly wary of a bidding war with Liverpool, GOAL understands. The Anfield club are in pole position to sign Nunez, and while Manchester United would love to have the 22-year-old at Old Trafford, they understand that the chase may be fruitless. With an array of areas they wish to address this summer, this is a battle the Red Devils seem ready to bypass. Editors' Picks Nunez transfer latest Liverpool are confident in landing the rising Uruguayan star as an attacking replacement for Sadio Mane, who appears on the brink of a transfer to Bayern Munich. They've made Nunez their top priority and are prepared to pay a club-record fee of more than £75 million ($94m) to land him. After sneaking ahead of Tottenham in January to snap up Luis Diaz, Liverpool are eager to beat any rival that stands in their way for Nunez. The Benfica player scored 26 league goals and six European goals this term, enough to put him on Manchester United's radar. Despite appearing set to turn their attention away from Nunez, striker is still a position the Red Devils would like to address in some capacity in the coming months, GOAL has been told. Who will Man Utd turn to? Unlike the Nunez situation, which Manchester United have swiftly soured on, they are preparing for a drawn-out pursuit of Barcelona's Frenkie de Jong this summer and haven't given up on taking him to Old Trafford. Indeed, GOAL understands the club have now officially opened talks with Barcelona over De Jong, though they are posturing as unafraid to walk away because other options on the table. Leeds' Kalvin Phillips and West Ham's Declan Rice are also seen as possible targets, though they could carry inflated transfer fees as England players. In total, manager Erik ten Hag wants to make five signings in his first transfer window at the club. Further reading

Liverpool star who left Darwin Nunez 'dumbfounded' could soon be teammate as transfer talk continues 

© Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images Darwin Nunez during the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Leg Two match between Liverpool FC and SL Benfica at Anfield on April 13, 2022 Darwin Nunez has already set Anfield alight in his blossoming career, but should he sign for Liverpool this summer - as expected - he will be joining forces with a player who left him 'dumbfounded' last season. The Benfica striker has just completed a brilliant season in Portugal, scoring 32 times in 38 appearances for the Eagles, leaving him as one of the most sought-after goal-getters in Europe. But as talks continue between the two clubs, he is already well acquainted with his prospect employers, having come up against the Reds in the Champions League quarter-finals. Despite Liverpool winning the aggregate tie 6-4, Nunez did his reputation no harm by scoring in both legs. After surviving a VAR-check, his 82nd-minute finish at Anfield in the second leg gave the visitors a ray of hope with the score a 3-3 on the night. And just moments later, Nunez came close to reducing the aggregate deficit to just a single goal with a stunning first time volley. Blood Red: Darwin Nunez Would Be A "Luxury" LFC Signing | Transfer Daily SHARE SHARE TWEET SHARE EMAIL Click to expand UP NEXT READ MORE: How Liverpool could line-up next season after £85m Darwin Nunez transfer READ MORE: Manchester United 'eye' shock Liverpool transfer as £42m Sadio Mane Bayern Munich claim made But Liverpool's Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson had other ideas, getting down low to his right to deny his opponent with a superb save. It would prove to be a pivotal moment in the contest as the Reds held out from thereon to book their passage to the Champions League semi-final. After the match, Nunez acknowledged it had been a key moment. Speaking to Sky Italy, he said: "That Alisson save? That was incredible. I swear to you, I saw the ball going in... and then it wasn't." Alisson's performances in-between the sticks for Jurgen Klopp's side saw him recognised by inclusion in the Premier League's Team of the Season. But prior to facing Benfica at Anfield, the 29-year-old had already acknowledged the danger that The Eagles - and Nunez in particular - would offer up. Speaking in a pre-match press conference, Alisson said: "They have quick strikers, they have a strong striker as a number nine. They gave us a lot of work to do, but we are ready to face them, we are ready and prepared to face that match and to achieve our goals." If negotiations go as planned, Alisson will instead be preparing to line up alongside Nunez next season, not against him, as the Reds look to seal a deal for a new striker that would result in a club record transfer fee.

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