Newcastle United are reportedly lining up a swoop for SL Benfica striker Darwin Nunez in the summer transfer window later this year.

According to the Mirror, Newcastle United are already preparing plans for the summer transfer window and have identified SL Benfica’s Uruguayan forward Darwin Nunez as one of the two priority targets.

Newcastle enjoyed an eventful January transfer window as they secured the signings of Chris Wood, Kieran Trippier, Bruno Guimaraes, Matt Targett and Dan Burn, with the latter two arriving on the transfer deadline day. However, Eddie Howe was keen on bringing in another striker but saw the Magpies get snubbed by Stade de Reims starlet Hugo Ekitike.

Having missed out on a new striker, Newcastle have already chalked out plans to bolster their attacking unit next summer. And, as per the report, Nunez has emerged as one of the priority transfer targets for the Tyneside outfit.

Nunez burst out onto the scenes at Uruguayan outfit Penarol before arriving in Europe in 2019 when he signed for Spanish second division outfit UD Almeria. The 22-year-old enjoyed a solid debut season prompting Benfica to invest heavily in him in the summer of 2020. After a fairly decent maiden season in Portugal, the forward has hit top form in the ongoing campaign.

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Nunez has produced a tally of 20 goals and two assists from 25 matches in all competitions in 2021/22. His exploits in the final third have put him on the radars of several clubs. West Ham United made a play to try and sign him late in the January transfer window but saw their bids get rejected by Benfica.

Newcastle United, too, held a strong interest in the Uruguayan international but could not get a deal over the line. However, as per the report, they are now ready to push to sign Nunez again in the summer transfer window. The Magpies see the 22-year-old, along with LOSC Lille defender Sven Botman, as key additions to their squad as they target a top ten finish next term.

Rated at £40 million, Nunez would add a different dimension to Newcastle’s attacking unit and has the potential to be an upgrade over both Chris Wood and Callum Wilson. It will be interesting to see whether the Magpies can pull off a deal for the South American attacker. However, any move would hinge on them maintaining their Premier League status.

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