West Ham United reportedly remain keen on signing SL Benfica forward Darwin Nunez after their January bid was rejected.
According to Fabrizio Romano, in his Here We Go podcast, West Ham United have retained their interest in Darwin Nunez. The Londoners were keen on signing the Uruguayan forward in January, but their £50 million bid was reportedly rejected by SL Benfica. The Portuguese giants were not too keen on losing their star player in the middle of the season and were thus holding out for a bigger fee.
However, West Ham remain keen on securing the services of Nunez, with David Moyes eyeing a summer swoop for the Uruguayan international. It appears the youngster has been identified as the ideal striker-partner for Michail Antonio next season, as the club look to strengthen the goalscoring department.
Indeed, West Ham have appeared far too overreliant on the services of Antonio. The Jamaican international has been an ever-present figure in the club’s offensive unit, which has led to issues around fatigue and fitness. It was one of the main reasons why the Hammers had opted to target a striker in January.
While Benfica were not too keen on offloading Nunez in the winter transfer window, they could be forced to part ways with the striker after the end of the season. The 22-year-old, after all, has been in imperious form since joining the club in 2020, racking up 39 goals in 75 competitive outings.
Nunez’s performances were vital in helping SL Benfica leapfrog FC Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League group stage this season. He is also by far the top scorer in the Liga Portugal Bwin this term, with 20 goals in just 21 appearances.
Nunez, therefore, could prove to be a massive coup for West Ham next season, given his undoubted quality and productivity in the final third. However, the Hammers are set to face stiff competition from league rivals Manchester City in the race to sign the 22-year-old Uruguayan international, while Arsenal are involved in the equation as well.
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West Ham could face strong resistance from SL Benfica as well, with the Portuguese giants likely to demand a hefty valuation for their star striker. Fortunately for Moyes, he has no shortage of alternatives, especially with the Hammers also keeping close tabs on Sevilla frontman Youssef En-Nesyri, who is likely to leave La Liga next season.
