On the radar
It has been a busy summer for Benfica.
By signing Nunez for €24 million, the Eagles have broken the Portuguese transfer record and taken their total summer spending to almost €80m. This year, they have been responsible for three of the most expensive transfers in Portuguese history, with Nunez joining Everton Soares and Julian Weigl at the Estadio da Luz.
So highly rated is the Uruguay striker, they have inserted a €100m release clause into his contract. He has only been in Europe for a year, joining Almeria from Penarol in 2019, but made a good impression with 16 goals in the Spanish Segunda Division.
His form earned him an international call-up, and after scoring on his debut against Peru, there are high hopes for him. Standing at 6ft 2ins, he is more Cavani than Suarez, thriving on good service into the box and a real handful for defenders. He will be a huge boost to Benfica’s hopes of regaining the title.
NDUBUISI EGBO
(Tirana)
The ex-Nigeria goalkeeper, now Tirana coach, has become the first African manager to win a European title.
MBUNYA ALEMANJI
(Roma)
Roma snapped up the 16-year-old from Cambridge United based on video clips.
IRVIN CARDONA
(Brest)
It is impossible to do justice to Cardona’s acrobatic volley against Dijon with words alone. Just type his name into YouTube.
JUDE BELLINGHAM
(Borussia Dortmund)
The 17-year-old became England U21’s youngest debutant and goalscorer, then bagged again on his Dortmund debut.
EDDIE NKETIAH
(Arsenal)
In the same England Under-21 game, Nketiah scored a ten-minute hat-trick.
MARCUS McGUANE
(Oxford United)
Barcelona’s first Englishman since Gary Lineker has returned home – joining Oxford on loan from Nottingham Forest.