The Catalans failed to sign a striker in the summer transfer window after letting go of Luis Suarez
Barcelona have identified Benfica striker Darwin Nunez as the ideal replacement for Luis Suarez, who left the Catalans in the summer transfer window to join Atletico Madrid.
According to reports, Barca have maximised their interest in Darwin Nunez, having failed to sign him while he was at Almeria. In the end, Benfica decided to buy the Uruguayan youngster for 21m pounds following his spectacular season at Almeria.
It is also added that Barca should get the nod from the new president for any transfers as they have recently cut ties with Joseph Maria Bartomeu. The new president will be elected within the next eighty days.
Barca manager Ronald Koeman also vented his frustrations on not signing a striker in the summer transfer window while openly stating Memphis Depay was his desired target. Depay, perhaps, came close to joining the Blaugrana on the deadline day of the transfer window but the move couldn’t materialise in the end.
Nunez has been off to a spectacular start at Benfica this season, racking up 4 goals and 5 assists including a hat-trick on his Europa League debut.
The 21-year-old also appeared as a substitute in last month’s World Cup Qualifiers against Ecuador, where Uruguay lost the match 4-2.
It will be interesting to see whether Barca would sign the Uruguayan striker or go for Depay, who is Koeman’s preferred target.
Luis Suarez has left an indelible mark at Barca – becoming the club’s third-highest goalscorer in no time, and his compatriot Nunez has the potential to be his successor.
