Erik ten Hag was ‘counting’ on Manchester United to sign Benfica striker Darwin Nunez but the club’s ‘dithering’ has seen him agree to join Liverpool in a £64million deal.
The 22-year-old is set to have a medical with Liverpool in the next 24 hours before putting pen-to-paper in a deal that could rise to around £80m, depending on his success at Anfield.
The Uruguay international scored 36 goals last term, including twice against Liverpool in the Champions League.
Nunez was high on United’s priority list and ten Hag felt that he could provide perfect competition for Cristiano Ronaldo next season, before becoming the club’s long-term first choice striker.
But Erik ten Hag angry as ‘dithering’ Manchester United miss out on £64m Darwin Nunez transfer and Duncan Castles says United were caught cold by Liverpool’s advances and that Jurgen Klopp and Virgil van Dijk proved crucial in luring Nunez to Anfield.
Nunez is said to view Klopp as the ‘best coach in the world’, while Van Dijk spoke effusively about Nunez’s potential in a recent interview.
Ten Hag felt Nunez would be a ‘key’ addition but United must now find an alternative in the market.
United are yet to make a signing this summer, with the club focused on capturing Frenkie de Jong from Barcelona.
Ten Hag wants a forward, a central defender and a new right-back as well as De Jong but the club may need to sell in order to fund moves for his targets.
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