Liverpool have been linked with a move for Sporting star Matheus Nunes this week, and now they know how much they’ll have to pay to acquire his services.
Despite reports suggesting the Reds have concluded their incoming business for the summer, it would appear Jürgen Klopp is still interested in recruiting further midfield competition.
And Matheus Nunes is one of those players they are looking at.
According to Record, Liverpool would have to pay a total package of £42.7 million to sign the player.
Advert
The Anfield club have also been linked with Florian Neuhaus today, a player who boasts a similar profile to Nunes.
Both are deep lying playmakers rather than box-to-box midfielders. Players who are better at contributing to the build-up rather than creating goal scoring opportunities or scoring goals themselves.
And Liverpool targeting players of such profile does make sense.
The Merseyside outfit are set to move for Jude Bellingham next summer. But for now, Borussia Dortmund aren’t prepared to sell the youngster.
Advert
If he were to make the move to England’s north-west, he would be more of a box-to-box player for Liverpool, stationed to the right of Fabinho in midfield.
Nunes though would be more likely to occupy the slightly more reserved role Thiago Alcantara performs so well in for the Reds.
Thiago is a player who is now the wrong side of 30 and he has struggled with niggling injury issues throughout his career.
As such, he has never started more than 30 games in a single season.
Advert
And his profile is a unique one within the Liverpool squad. And when he’s unavailable, Liverpool do miss him.
Thus, at the age of 31, Thiago firstly needs an adequate understudy to play when he needs a rest and secondly he’ll eventually need to be replaced.
Nunes could be just the man for the job. At 23, he’ll be able to learn from Thiago in his first season, with a view to take his place in Liverpool’s first XI down the line.
Liverpool might want to see whether they can persuade Sporting to lower the £42.7 million price tag they’ve attached to Nunes, but signing him would be a wise move from the Reds.
Robert Worthington