‘He’s also quick’: Peter Crouch says £59million player Chelsea reportedly want to sign can do absolutely everything

Add as preferred source on Google

Peter Crouch gave Darwin Nunez a very positive review amidst reported interest from Chelsea and other major European clubs.

Crouch spoke highly about the in-demand centre-forward on BT Sport yesterday, ahead of Benfica’s Champions League clash against Liverpool.

Everybody is taking notice of Nunez

It has been difficult to ignore Nunez this season, and not only because of his 6ft1 frame.

The 22-year-old has recorded a mere 32 goals from 37 appearances across all competitions in 2021/22.

Unsurprisingly, those at the summit of the footballing food chain have picked up on the striker’s talents.

According to The Athletic, Chelsea, Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain are all currently in pole position to sign the Uruguayan.

Nunez did little to douse the intrigue last night by scoring at Anfield as Benfica held Liverpool 3-3.

He also confidently converted in the reverse fixture last week, plus bagged a hattrick on the weekend.

Even before the game on Wednesday, Crouch and his co. pundits were raving about the noticeable number nine; imagine what they said after the match.

“Listen, there’s been big noises about him for a while and he’s delivered,” said the former Tottenham Hotspur man on Nunez.

“He’s got 31 goals this season (now 32), he’s banging them in. He’s big, he’s strong but he’s also quick, he’s mobile.

“And he’s scored a lot of goals against big teams, certainly in the Champions League.

“I think when you score a lot of goals in Portugal, the question is always asked: can you deliver against the big teams? But he has in the Champions League.”

Expensive goal machine

By beating Alisson, Nunez became the first player to score six goals for a Portuguese side in a single Champions League campaign.

No wonder then his value has apparently almost tripled from the £20m (Tugascout) Benfica paid Almeria for him in 2020.

The Athletic claim is transfer fee will likely be around the £59m mark which, if paid in full, would make him Chelsea’s fifth-most expensive signing of all time.

Considering the four ahead of him are Alvaro Morata, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Kai Havertz and Romelu Lukaku, Nunez doesn’t exactly have grand footsteps to follow in (other than Kai’s).

But it is the form of Havertz that might make the Stamford Bridge hierarchy reconsider raiding Benfica this summer.

However, Thomas Tuchel may need a replacement for Lukaku, depending how things work out for the Belgian.

Keep your phone close by Darwin, Chelsea could be in touch soon.

Keep up to date with all the latest Chelsea news and opinion by following The Chelsea Chronicle’s Facebook and Twitter accounts