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.
Image: Getty Images) Getty Images) Image:
Getty Images) Getty Images)
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.
