Which Premier League Club Should Darwin Nunez Join This Summer?

Reliable goalscorers are the most valuable commodity in soccer. It’s why Manchester City are expected to break the bank to sign one of Erling Haaland or Harry Kane this summer just 12 months after Chelsea broke their transfer record to land Romelu Lukaku. Even in the modern age, soccer teams revolve around centre forwards.

Darwin Nunez is another number nine currently linked with a number of Premier
PINC
League clubs. The Uruguayan has enjoyed an exceptional season at Benfica, netting 31 times in all competitions, and also made his mark in the Champions League where he found the back of the net no fewer than six times in just 10 appearances.

Manchester United could be in the market for a new centre forward this summer with Edinson Cavani set to leave the Old Trafford club. Anthony Martial has also spent the second half of this season on loan at Sevilla while Marcus Rashford has struggled for form. Nunez could fit the bill for Erik ten Hag whose Ajax team were eliminated from the Champions League by the Uruguayan striker this season.

Of course, Cristiano Ronaldo has been a dependable source of goals for Manchester United, scoring 17 times in the Premier League this season, but the 37-year-old can no longer player every minute of every match. On top of this, it’s not clear how Ronaldo will fit into ten Hag’s high-pressing, high-energy system.

Ten Hag’s system certainly has room for a designated number nine (Sebastien Haller has been a prolific scorer for Ajax this season), but Ronaldo is unable or potential unwilling to play at the high intensity demanded by the Dutch coach. Nunez’s arrival at Old Trafford would hint at United’s desire to transition their attack into a new era.

Arsenal have also been linked with Nunez. The Gunners will lose Alexandre Lacazette at the end of the season following on from the departure of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in January. Dusan Vlahovic was believed to be a target before he joined Juventus while Real Sociedad’s Alexander Isak is also a long-term target.

Nunez, however, might be the best option of the lot. The 22-year-old could have the highest ceiling of any young centre forward in the European game besides Haaland and Kylian Mbappe. Arsenal’s signing of Nunez would be a statement. It would be another sign that the North London club is finally heading in the right direction again.

Liverpool have been linked with a number of centre forwards in the past, but the recent addition of both Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota means the Anfield club are now well-stocked in the attacking third. Lukaku could be on his way out of Chelsea this summer after a difficult season, but Thomas Tuchel already has Kai Havertz and Timo Werner as good options through the middle.

This summer will likely see a number of elite level strikers on the move. Haaland is expected to leave Borussia Dortmund with Mbappe out of contract at Paris Saint-Germain. Nunez is another who is likely looking to take the next step in his career and there are no shortage of suitors for the Uruguayan.