Liverpool has agreed to pay Benfica an initial 75 million euros (£64 million) for Uruguay striker Darwin Nunez, the Portuguese club announced on Monday.
Benfica said in a statement that the transfer could eventually reach 100 million euros, breaking Liverpool’s club record of £75 million paid to Southampton for Dutch center-back Virgil van Dijk in 2018.
Nunez scored 26 goals in 28 league appearances in Portugal last season.
The 22-year-old, who was left out of Uruguay’s squad for Saturday’s 5-0 friendly win over Panama, was expected to begin a medical on Monday that could last two days.
Personal terms are not expected to be an issue, as the player has stated his desire to play for Reds manager Jurgen Klopp despite interest from Manchester United.
Nunez is expected to sign a six-year contract with Liverpool, the Premier League and Champions League runners-up who have been in talks with Benfica for several weeks.
In April, he scored in both legs of Benfica’s Champions League quarter-final loss to Liverpool, earning praise from Klopp.
Nunez is expected to join Liverpool as a direct replacement for Sadio Mane, after Bayern Munich increased their pursuit of the Senegal forward.
Liverpool have turned down two bids from the Bundesliga champions and are demanding a fee in excess of £40 million for Mane, who has one year left on his contract.
