Liverpool turned down the chance to sign Matheus Nunes last summer, as they didn’t think he was ready for the move to Anfield.
The Reds were heavily linked with the then Sporting Lisbon midfielder before he joined Wolves. However, as per The Athletic, Liverpool held concerns over whether Nunes would manage the jump to a club ‘fighting at the top end of the Premier League.’
But now, barely five months on, Liverpool have reportedly been more convinced. Neither Wolves nor the Reds are said to have dismissed suggestions that Nunes could move to Merseyside at the end of the season.
The transfer is even said to be a ‘clear possibility,’ with Wolves reportedly aware of Liverpool’s interest.
But despite a close working relationship between the two clubs, it’s claimed that the Reds won’t get any favours. Instead, The Athletic claim that Liverpool will have to ‘make a normal bid in a normal way’ to have a chance of landing Nunes.
They also report that Nunes’ agent Jorge Mendes will be an ‘influential voice’ in any discussions. Liverpool are said to have good standing with Mendes, as Fabinho, Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez are all clients of his agency.
Liverpool show lack of joined-up thinking
This really is a bizarre sage for Liverpool to have entangled themselves in. If they weren’t convinced enough by Nunes to pay £38m for him in August, why are they now so sure to pay even more?
Don’t get us wrong, we were keen on the Wolves man joining last year. He’d definitely improve Liverpool in their current form.
But since arriving at Molineux, Nunes hasn’t done a great deal that would change reluctant minds. There are mitigating circumstances, but he hasn’t exactly set the world alight.
So, it’s safe to say that Liverpool might as well have taken the ‘risk’ last summer. Had they have signed Nunes upon their initial interest, perhaps they wouldn’t be quite as far down the table as they currently are.
Instead, Jurgen Klopp opted to rely on the options he already had. Many of those have, predictably, been injured for most of the season.
Should Nunes’ move to Anfield eventually happen later this year, this will all be forgotten of course. In the meantime, Liverpool may get the chance to evaluate their potential signing even further this evening. Let’s hope they don’t change their minds again.
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