Liverpool have ‘already discussed’ £38m transfer target but he’s not an ‘alternative to Bellingham’

Joe Williams
Liverpool target Matheus Nunes watches the play

Liverpool are ‘keen’ on signing Wolves midfielder Matheus Nunes in time for next season, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

The Reds have started the season terribly with their 3-0 defeat to Brighton in the Premier League seeing Jurgen Klopp’s men drop to ninth in the standings.

Back-to-back losses puts ten points adrift of Manchester United – who they face at the beginning of March – and 19 points behind league leaders Arsenal.

Many of Liverpool’s problems have been blamed on their midfield with Klopp admitting that they need reinforcements over the next couple of transfer windows.

When asked if he was happy with his current squad, Klopp told reporters on Monday: “We look outside [to transfers] as well. It’s not that we’re stubborn ad we keep these boys until 2060. It’s all about what you can do and want to do and each year is the same. Each press conference someone asks you to ask me about transfers during the window.”

On possible incoming transfers in January, Klopp added: “Yes, we have to strengthen. Is this the right moment to do it? I can’t see it.”

And now Romano claims that Liverpool are hoping to line up a deal for Nunes with Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain potentially on their way out of Anfield in the summer.

Romano wrote on Twitter: “Liverpool are keen on signing Matheus Nunes for next season, he’s part of the list – been told potential Liverpool future move was already discussed ahead of his move to Wolves #transfers Nunes, not alternative to Jude Bellingham but one more option as Keita/Oxlade could leave.”

Liverpool fell just short of winning a historic Quadruple last season and the drop off this term has surprised many, including former Manchester United defender Gary Neville.

On whether Klopp has sapped too much effort from his existing squad, Neville said on his Sky Sports podcast: “I don’t know about that. Manchester United, I was there for 20 years under a manager who demanded that effort every day and there was a group of players that were there for ten or 15 years.

“Yeah there was the odd season of a dip and that could be this but it’s stark sometimes to see it because you watch them and they’re a mess at the back, they’re all over the place.

“You look like you can score a goal against them on every attack. They are going to have to regroup, I think Jurgen Klopp will regroup. He’s not the type to shirk it, Jurgen Klopp, he’s a massive character.

“I think he’s put in an unbelievable managerial performance, equal or better than Pep Guardiola has in these five, six, seven years, I really do. And they’ve got new owners coming in, they have spent money but the new owners coming in you would imagine, if Jurgen Klopp is given the money that Chelsea have given their manager [he would use it well].

“If Jurgen Klopp can get that level of money that 200 to 250 million from new owners, who would probably have to promise that to come in anyway, and if he spends it as wisely as he has done in the last six or seven years then he’s going to be empowered next season to go and transform that team.

“I don’t see him thinking this will be the end, I think he will be seeing this as a new beginning. I think because of the credit he’s built up, you aren’t going to stick the boot into Jurgen Klopp and the Liverpool players. Yeah you are going to be critical of them, they are defending really poorly, they are too easy to play against, they’re poor in midfield.”

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