Liverpool were interested in signing Wolves midfielder Matheus Nunes but are now
expected to move on to other transfer targets - with four other players in the
frame
Wolves have removed a clause in Matheus Nunes' contract that would have allowed
him to join Liverpool for £44million.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is on the hunt for
a new central midfielder and is thought to be an admirer of the 24-year-old. Yet Wolves
swooped to sign Nunes from Sporting Lisbon in a club-record £38m deal last summer,
beating Liverpool to his signature.
The Reds could have landed Nunes for £44m this
summer due to a clause in his contract, but that has now been removed. As such, Klopp
and his recruitment team are now looking at other central midfielders - including
Brighton talent Moises Caicedo.
As reported by The Telegraph, Wolves are free to set
Nunes' price this summer if another club comes calling. They are expected to demand at
least £50m for the player, which may prove too much considering his minimal
contribution this season.
Nunes has failed to score during his 25 Premier League
appearances, providing just a single assist. That has left Wolves in a perilous
position, with Julen Lopetgui's side sitting two points above the relegation zone. They
drew 1-1 at Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
Perhaps the only way for Liverpool to get
Nunes on the cheap is if Wolves are relegated this season. If Wolves stay up, that will
allow them to keep hold of a player described as 'one of the best in the world' by
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola last year.
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Who do you think Liverpool should sign this summer? Let us
know in the comments below!
With Nunes out of the equation, Liverpool will focus on
their other targets. The man at the top of their shortlist is Jude Bellingham, the
19-year-old midfielder who impressed for England at the World Cup in Qatar and is
already one of Borussia Dortmund's best players.
Yet Dortmund are under no pressure to
sell Bellingham this summer and could demand around £130m for his signature, which may
prove too expensive for Liverpool. Another target is Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount,
who is a more realistic option.
Mount, 24, is yet to agree a new contract with the
Blues and has fewer than 15 months left on his existing deal. As such, Chelsea - who
need to raise some funds this summer after spending more than £500m on players during
the last 12 months - may sell Mount.
Image: Getty Images) Getty Images)
It is unclear
how much Chelsea will demand for Mount, but it won't be anywhere near as much as £130m.
Liverpool are also interested in Mount's Chelsea team-mate Conor Gallagher, a
23-year-old who has the energy and dynamism to suit Klopp's style of play.
In terms of
Caicedo, the 21-year-old is enjoying a breakthrough season with Brighton. The emerging
talent has featured in all but one of their Premier League games this term - starting
24 times - and scored for Ecuador at the World Cup in Qatar.
Yet it will be tricky to
prize him away from the Amex. Arsenal offered £70m for Caicedo in January - with the
player keen to move - but Brighton refused to budge. The Seagulls then tied him down to
a new long-term deal last month.
