Darwin Nunez cost Liverpool £64 million in the summer, but he is yet to cement his spot, with Cody Gakpo set to come from PSV for £44.3 million – after the Reds outbid Manchester United
Darwin Nunez has been dubbed “unstoppable” by Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, despite the club’s ambitions to bring in a new striker.
After a fantastic World Cup, Dutch forward Cody Gakpo is set to arrive in England to finalize a transfer for up to £44.3 million with PSV Eindhoven. With Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota out for extended periods, he will strengthen Liverpool’s offensive options.
In their absence, Liverpool’s Boxing Day 3-1 triumph against Aston Villa featured Uruguayan summer signing Nunez, who cost £64 million from Benfica. Klopp, though, believes the 23-year-old attacker, who has nine goals in 20 appearances, is still a tremendous threat and will come good.
The Reds’ manager assessed: “When we hold the ball and pass it at the proper time, he’s unstoppable; no defender can really catch up in terms of speed.
“I’ve heard all the stories, and they’re all fine, but we’re fully calm, and everything will be alright. He played a terrific game, and we won 3-1, which is all that matters.
“I haven’t worked since yesterday, although I’ve had some strikers around. I understand that early scoring is unimportant. There are far more essential things to worry about. All you have to do is remain cool.”
Nunez squandered two good chances in the first half before dragging wide after the break at Villa Park. But he got his second assist of the season late in the game after Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk had already scored.
Bajcetic, a defensive midfielder for Villa, got the ball around goalkeeper Robin Olsen and blasted past Tyrone Mings on the line. He became the youngest Liverpool player to score as a substitute in the Premier League since Michael Owen against Tottenham Hotspur in November 1997, at the age of 18 years and 65 days.
The midfielder has had a breakout season, making his eighth appearance for Klopp’s side after impressing in the club’s World Cup camp in Dubai.
“I’ve been here for the whole season working and trying to learn and watch,” Bajcetic, who signed from Celta Vigo in February 2021, stated.
“Dubai was a great experience for me because I got to play in two games and gain experience and confidence. I’m hoping to obtain more minutes and continue working hard and learning.”
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