Many people were surprised when Liverpool was obliged to sign Luis Diaz from Porto at the end of the January transfer window, because it is a league they are familiar with.
Not that they hadn't planned to purchase Diaz in the first place, but reports stated they were planning to do so at the end of the season, only for an unexpected offer from Tottenham to push the deal forward.
It was a welcome necessity, as Diaz hit the ground running and helped Liverpool come close to achieving the unthinkable by winning a quadruple.
With the Colombian moving to the left side of the attack, Mane was forced to play in an unfamiliar central position for the balance of the season, which he did admirably.
Nunez will be a more natural fit in that center role than Diaz, and both will be looking for a smooth transfer from the Primeira Liga to the Premier League.
He's already proven that he can cut it against English opposition in two appearances against Liverpool in the Champions League quarter-finals this season.
Virgil van Dijk recently listed Nunez as one of his toughest ever opponents in an interview with Rio Ferdinand, despite Jurgen Klopp's side winning 3-1 in the first leg in Lisbon. Nunez scored the Benfica goal and played well enough that Virgil van Dijk recently listed him as one of his toughest ever opponents in an interview with Rio Ferdinand.
When Van Dijk was unavailable, he may have impressed even more in the return leg at Anfield. Nunez routinely pulled out to the left, stretching Liverpool's defense, and he could have had a hat-trick if it hadn't been for their effective offside trap.
Nunez scored three times in the Liverpool goal, but two of them were ruled out by the assistant referee as Benfica drew 3-3 on aggregate.
In the closing 10 minutes, though, he demonstrated his force of personality by forcing a fantastic stop from Alisson and almost dragging his team back into a game they had previously been well out of.
Is Nunez a good fit for Liverpool?
Roberto Firmino, who was brilliant under the Anfield floodlights but has seen his previously crucial position in Liverpool's offense shrink in recent years, scored two of Liverpool's goals that night.
Until the arrival of Diogo Jota in 2020, which signaled a slight shift away from that as the former Wolves man increasingly played a role closer to that of a traditional striker in Klopp's system, it was appreciated that the Brazil international played in more of a 'false nine' role, allowing Mane and Mohamed Salah to thrive.
It's oversimplifying Nunez to imply he's a pure number nine in the Erling Haaland mold. He drops deep and pulls wide in the same manner as smaller attackers, such as those already at Liverpool.
At 6ft 2in tall, he might give a weapon that will pique the interest of Liverpool fullbacks Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson, especially the former.
No other defender in Europe's top five leagues has generated as many opportunities as Alexander-Arnold this season, with Robertson second on 90, ahead of Cristiano Biraghi of Fiorentina (89).
With 27, he also generated the most 'big opportunities' this season (defined by Opta as an opportunity where a goal is expected), while only David Raum (226) of Hoffenheim and Angelino (211) of RB Leipzig supplied more open play crosses than his 191.
Nunez appears to have everything he needs to flourish in the Premier League on paper. Pace, strength, dexterity, shooting precision, and beautiful hair.
The Darwin evolution puns are becoming old, and while we share some of the blame, it'll be better for the player if he rejects all similarities.
Nunez is free to be himself.