Liverpool could be forced to part with £4.4m (€5m) following the Champions League clash with Rangers – if they choose to play Uruguayan striker Darwin Nunez.
The Reds splashed out to sign the 23-year-old from Portuguese giants Benfica this summer in a deal that could reportedly reach up to £85m (€100m) [Sky Sports].
However, with Liverpool reportedly paying around £65m (€75m) of that up front with the extra £20m (€25m) to come in installments, there are a series of markers which will trigger the payments.
According to Portuguese outlet A Bola, if Darwin Nunez makes his 10th appearances for Liverpool in this week’s Champions League clash with Rangers it will trigger a £4.4m (€5m) payment.
The report claims the first additional payment is “very close to happening” and goes into some more detail regarding how the remaining €20m will be shared out.
It also claims that Liverpool will pay Benfica a further €10m (£8.8m) when Darwin Nunez reaches 60 games for the club whilst the final €10m is “dependent on the individual performances” of the player and Liverpool.
This suggests that it will relate to markers such as goals scored or success in the Champions or Premier Leagues.
Darwin Nunez could trigger Liverpool fee v Rangers
Interestingly, Liverpool can offset the £4.4m fee by beating with Rangers with teams getting a £2.4m Champions League win bonus, with a draw earning both clubs £800k [Mirror].
Rangers fans are actually fairly familiar with Darwin Nunez from his time at Benfica, when the Uruguayan forward came off the bench in the Estadio de Luz to rescue a point against the Gers for his old club.
With Rangers 3-1 up heading into the final stages against the 10-men of Benfica, the introduction of Nunez turned the game and the striker assisted Benfica’s second goal before rolling home the equaliser.
However, the under-fire forward wasn’t so prolific as Rangers visited Anfield last week, with Allan McGregor thwarting Darwin Nunez four times in the first half alone as the Merseyside club ran out 2-0 winners.
Meanwhile, one of Rangers’ breakthrough stars of this season’s Champions League campaign is being tailed by a trio of Premier League sides.
