Liverpool are set to confirm the signing of Darwin Nunez.
According to numerous reports, Liverpool have agreed a £64 million fee for the Benfica striker with an extra £21 in potential add-ons. He will sign a six-year contract.
The 22-year-old scored 34 goals in 41 appearances for Benfica last season in a real breakthrough campaign.
He played twice against Jurgen Klopp's side during their Champions League quarter-final, scoring in both legs.
It prompted Klopp to heap praise on the forward.
“Extremely good-looking boy, eh?" Klopp said. "And a decent player as well. Really good, really good, you have to say: physically strong, quick, plus calm around his finish, when he finished the goal off he was really calm. If he stays healthy it’s a big career ahead of him.”
We should have figured out back then that Klopp would be interested in signing him this summer.
While the fee may prove to be a club record fee, Nunez certainly won't be commanding astronomical wages. According to Portuguese journalist, Pedro Sepulveda, Nunez will be paid around £98,000-per-week.
Much has been made of Liverpool's wage structure in recent weeks with Sadio Mane reportedly asking to quadruple his wages and Mohamed Salah still yet to agree new terms on his current deal.
So, where does Nunez's salary fit in all of this?
Well, using data from Sportrac as well as a couple of other sources, the new signing is set to only be Liverpool's 15th best-paid player!
Take a look at the full list below:
Liverpool's wage list for the 2022/23 season
25. Caoimhin Kelleher – £6,000-a-week
24. Curtis Jones – £7,500-a-week
23. Harvey Elliott - £21,000-a-week (per Salary Sport)
22. Adrian – £58,000-a-week
22. Luis Diaz - £56,000-a-week (per the Mirror)
=20. Konstantinos Tsimikas – £60,000-a-week
=20. Divock Origi – £60,000-a-week
19. Ibrahima Konate – £70,000-a-week
=17. Takumi Minamino – £75,000-a-week
=17. Joe Gomez – £75,000-a-week
16. Diogo Jota – £90,385-a-week
15. Darwin Nunez - £98,285-a-week (per Pedro Sepúlveda)
=12. Joel Matip – £100,000-a-week
=12. Sadio Mane – £100,000-a-week
=12. Andrew Robertson – £100,000-a-week (per Sports Illustrated)
=10. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – £120,000-a-week
=10. Naby Keita – £120,000-a-week
=8. James Milner – £140,000-a-week (details of his new reduced deal currently unknown)
=8. Jordan Henderson – £140,000-a-week
7. Alisson Becker – £150,000-a-week
=4. Fabinho – £180,000-a-week
=4. Roberto Firmino – £180,000-a-week
=4. Trent Alexander-Arnold – £180,000-a-week
=2. Mohamed Salah – £200,000-a-week
=2. Thiago Alcantara – £200,000-a-week
- Virgil van Dijk – £220,000-a-week
So, Van Dijk is Liverpool's highest earner picking up a cool £220,000-per-week.
Salah is £20,000-per-week worse off than Van Dijk as he continues to hold out for a bumper new deal.
Mane is currently the club's 12th best-paid player ahead of his potential move to Bayern Munich. It was claimed he wanted a new £393k-a-week deal.
Nunez is down in 15th if his reported wages are, indeed, correct. But that's more than what Luis Diaz is currently on with the winger currently picking up just £56,000-a-week.