Liverpool are on the verge of losing the battle to sign reported transfer target Matheus Nunes.
As reported by BBC Sport, Wolves are set to announce the signing of the Sporting Lisbon midfielder, for a fee of £38m.
Liverpool had long been rumoured as a potential destination for Nunes this summer. But despite injury troubles blighting Jurgen Klopp’s midfield, they chose not to pursue a deal.
There could be many reasons for this of course. But chief among them seems to be that Liverpool have earmarked next summer as the time to revamp their midfield. In that respect, Nunes move to Wolves shouldn’t remove him from their shortlist. Here’s why.
Champions League football off the menu for Nunes
Throughout the summer, and the reports linking Liverpool to the player, Nunes has been quoted as wanting to play Champions League football.
Obviously that’s now off the menu for him this season. Should he have a good year at Wolves though, he’ll surely be keen to get back to Europe’s premier competition in 2023/24.
Perhaps he even already has a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ to that effect with Wolves. Reports had earlier indicated that he had rejected a move to Molineux. Between then and now though, something changed. Maybe his new club indicated that they could be used as a ‘stepping-stone’ move should he impress in the Premier League?
We can’t know that for sure, but it seems something has changed his mind to move to Wolves. Liverpool should hopefully be able to offer Champions League football again next season. That would make them desirable to Nunes.
Premier League audition for Wolves’ new-boy
Of course if Nunes does light up the Premier League, then he could cost considerably more than the fee Wolves are paying. At any rate, they’ll want to add a profit to their expenditure.
That would make Nunes an expensive buy. But Liverpool reportedly aren’t afraid of big sums. Instead, they’re often put off by large wages.
As he would be moving from a mid-table team, you would expect Liverpool would have the capability of increasing Nunes’ pay without putting him in the top-earners. Think Diogo Jota, Sadio Mane, Gini Wijnaldum. We’ve been here before.
Another point worth making is that this time next year Nunes will be on the cusp of turning twenty-five. This is an age-range at which Liverpool have previously been keen to shop in.
With Premier League football under his belt and potentially a spot in Portugal’s World Cup squad, he now has the chance to prove himself to top-level teams.
Nunes is certainly a player to keep an eye on in the Premier League this season. Liverpool chose not to seriously pursue him this summer, despite suggestions that he’d be perfect for them. Impress at Wolves though, and it would make a lot of sense to do so next time around.
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