Liverpool are reportedly looking into the possibility of signing Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Matheus Nunes.
The Reds were heavily linked with the Portuguese international before he swapped Sporting for Wolves during the summer window. The 24-year-old arrived in the Premier League with a glowing reputation propped up by Pep Guardiola anointing him as one of the best in the world.
It was somewhat of a surprise then that Nunes opted to join Wolves, coming off the back of an underwhelming first season under Bruno Lage. However, report that deal was struck on the proviso he would be allowed to leave for another club once he acclimated to the Premier League.
Whether that has happened yet could be questioned, with Nunes struggling to make an impact for a side marooned in the relegation zone. The former Sporting star has yet to find the net and has struggled with injury issues.
He recently admitted that he needs to do more at Molineux, but that hasn’t deterred Liverpool decision makers, who see him as a long-term option at Anfield. A central midfielder is now unquestionably Jurgen Klopp’s top priority, following the surprise acquisition of Cody Gakpo from PSV.
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Jude Bellingham has long been linked with a move to Merseyside, but they look set to be priced out of a bidding war which is sure to include every elite European club. Nunes would be significantly cheaper, with a fee of £44million mooted in the report and it is suggested the Reds previously made a commitment to bid for him again, after not getting a deal done the first time around.
Wolves and Liverpool have recent history when it comes to transfer negotiations with Diogo Jota making the switch in 2020. And Fosun - the Wolves owners - have a business model which dictates that they are happy to acquire young talents and then sell on for profit.
Nunes was part of Portugal's World Cup squadThe report states that a deal could be completed during the current window, although it is likely he wouldn’t join up with his new employers until the end of the season. Between now and then, Nunes is tasked with keeping Wolves in the Premier League, with Wolves showing signs of life under new manager Julen Lopetegui.
Nunes did impress in the recent defeat to Manchester United, but accepts he needs to do a lot more to repay the faith - and the fee - Wolves offered him. “I put more pressure on myself because I want to be the best, but I don’t think I did enough. I have the hunger now to get to where I want to be,” he said last week,
“I want to be better than I was in the last six months, and I think these first six months of 2023 are going to be better individually for me. I have that in my mind and I’m pretty sure that I’m going to show that.”
Cody Gakpo has joined Liverpool from PSV Eindhoven (Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)The midfield player was signed by Wolves as part of an ambitious window which was hoped would see them move into a new era under Lage. But despite spending north of £100m, Lage was turfed out before the World Cup break, with ex-Spain boss Lopetegui taking the reins.
He added: “I don’t think we found a good balance. We have amazing players, I think that’s clear for everyone, but we didn’t show our quality.
“Our team wasn’t as intense as it should be, we got tired really quickly in the games, but I don’t think changing the manager helped us either. We also didn’t get the momentum we wanted as we would win a game and then lose or draw, and that didn’t help.
“But now, with the new coach and the new environment, I think we have the chance to get there. We can get better from here.”
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