Liverpool preparing £44m bid for Portuguese star in move to salvage season

Matheus Nunes only joined Wolverhampton Wanderers during the summer transfer window, but Liverpool are reportedly interested in signing him in January.

The 24-year-old entered the Premier League with a glowing reputation, bolstered by Pep Guardiola’s declaration of him as one of the best in the world.

It was somewhat surprising, then, that Nunes chose to join Wolves after an underwhelming first season under Bruno Lage. According to the Telegraph, the deal was struck on the condition that he be allowed to leave for another club once he had acclimated to the Premier League.

It’s unclear whether that has happened yet, with Nunes struggling to make an impact for a team in relegation trouble. The former Sporting star has yet to score and has been plagued by injuries.

He recently admitted that he needs to do more at Molineux, but that hasn’t stopped Liverpool executives from considering him as a long-term option at Anfield. Following the surprise acquisition of Cody Gakpo from PSV, Jurgen Klopp’s top priority is unquestionably a central midfielder.

Jude Bellingham has long been linked with a move to Merseyside, but they appear to be priced out of a bidding war that will almost certainly include every elite European club.

Nunes would be significantly cheaper, with a fee of £44 million suggested in the report, and it is suggested that the Reds previously committed to bidding for him again after failing to secure a deal the first time around.

Wolves and Liverpool have a recent history of transfer negotiations, with Diogo Jota joining in 2020. And Fosun, the Wolves’ owners, have a business model that requires them to acquire young talent and then sell it for a profit.

Nunes impressed in the recent loss to Manchester United, but admits he needs to do a lot more to repay Wolves’ faith – and the fee – in him. “I put more pressure on myself because I want to be the best, but I don’t believe I did enough. “I’m hungry to get to where I want to go,” 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. That’s what I’m thinking, and I’m pretty sure I’ll show it.”

Wolves signed the midfielder as part of an ambitious window in which they hoped to usher in a new era under Lage. Despite spending more than £100 million, Lage was fired before the World Cup, with ex-Spain manager Lopetegui taking over.

“I don’t think we found a good balance,” he added. We have incredible players, I believe everyone can agree on that, but we didn’t show it.

“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 desired because we would win one game and then lose or draw the next, which didn’t help.

“But now, with the new coach and the new environment, I think we have the chance to get there. We can improve from here.”