Newcastle United transfer targets Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez were both absent from the title clash between Porto and Benfica.
The South American pair are the Portuguese league’s top goalscorers, but neither played a part in Thursday’s clash between the two sides.
Porto, without Diaz, came out on top and won 3-1 which meant they finished 2021 top of Primeira Liga, level on 44 points with Sporting Lisbon, seven points ahead of Nunez’s Benfica.
The pair are still neck and neck at the top of goalscorer charts with Nunez on 13 goals and Diaz one further back on 12.
Nunez was ruled out of the clash with a foot injury according to Transfermarkt, after sustaining an injury in a 3-0 cup defeat to Porto a week prior, but Diaz wasn’t part of the matchday squad.
The Magpies have reportedly turned their attention back to striker Gabriel Barbosa, with Benfica refusing to sell Nunez.
The Champions League outfit said they didn’t want to sell in January, valuing Nunez at £60 million ahead of summer 2022, according to the Mirror.
Similar to Nunez, it was reported at the end of October by SPORT TV (and relayed by various English outlets) that Newcastle were preparing to trigger Diaz’s £68 million release clause in January.
However, Manchester United and Liverpool are both reportedly interested in Porto star Diaz, according to SAPO Desporto.
It would be an absolute dream if the pairs absence on Thursday was due to them ironing out the last remaining details of a mega double signing on Tyneside.
But realistically a move for Diaz, Nunez or both will have to wait in the summer, when all of Europe’s big heavyweights will be circling.
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