Liverpool will only pay full price for Darwin Nunez if they manage to win the Champions League.
That’s according to The Times, who claim that unless Liverpool win the trophy, a portion of the fee will go unpaid.
Breaking down the £85m total, it’s claimed that £64m will be paid up-front. Benfica will then reportedly earn an extra £11m based on Nunez ‘playing regularly.’
As for the other £10m, it’s claimed that it will be ‘linked to’ goals scored by the Uruguayan and ‘team success.’
There appears to be a separate add-on based on the Champions League though, as it’s claimed the ‘full amount’ will only be payable if The Reds win the trophy once again.
Realistic targets for Liverpool
Add-ons are a strange thing in football. Of course, the ideal scenario is that the club in any case end up paying the full amount. That would mean the transfer has surely been a success.
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But it also means that you’re out of pocket even further.
In this example, we all hope that Darwin Nunez does end up becoming Liverpool’s record signing. If The Reds can claim a seventh European Cup, the 22-year-old will have been doing something right.
If it turns out to be a poor investment, Liverpool won’t have lost quite as much as they might have done.
For Nunez, he is still young enough that even if it doesn’t work out at Anfield, Liverpool could still sell him on for a good amount.
Either way, it’s a sign of how far The Reds have come that this is seen as being an achievable add-on. Ten or even five years ago it would have perhaps been laughed out of the room by selling clubs.
Now, it’s all part and parcel for Liverpool as they look to tie up one of the most sought after talents in Europe.