Report: Arsenal set to meet club’s £66m asking price for ‘world-class’ striker as Edu opens talks

According to report from Portuguese outlet Record, Arsenal have opened talks to sign Darwin Nunez from Benfica this summer.

The Gunners will need at least one new striker before the start of next season, if not two. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang left the club last month, while both Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah are expected to walk away when their contracts expire at the end of this campaign.

Arsenal have been linked with a whole host of top-quality strikers over the last few months.

One of them is Benfica star Nunez, who is arguably the best centre-forward in the entire Portuguese top-flight at the moment.

The report claims that Arsenal technical director Edu has opened talks with Nunez and the Uruguayan is listening to what the Gunners have to offer. He rejected West Ham and Newcastle not too long ago, but the report reveals that he’s unlikely to say no to the Gunners.

Benfica, who would love to keep hold of him, know very well that it’s only a matter of time before he moves to a bigger club. They are ready to let him go this summer, but only if their £66.7 million (€80m) asking price is met.

That is a lot of money for a 22-year-old, but the report claims that Arsenal will have no problem meeting that figure – all thanks to their former skipper Aubameyang.

The Gunners have reportedly saved a lot of money after terminating the Gabon star’s £350,000-a-week contract. That allows them to spend big on a striker this summer and Nunez could well be the one.

The Express reported earlier this week that Arsenal have held initial talks with Nunez’s agents over a move in the summer transfer window.

The 22-year-old has been incredible for Benfica this season. He has scored 26 times for the Eagles so far and with at least nine games left in the campaign, it won’t be a surprise to see him hit that 35-goal mark.

Branded as a ‘world-class’ player in the making by legendary manager Jorge Jesus, Nunez has all the characteristics that Arsenal need from a new striker.

He would be an incredible signing for the Gunners and the fact that they can afford Benfica’s mammoth asking price without any trouble is excellent news for fans as well.