Barcelona ready to use Jorge Mendes relationship to hijack Liverpool move for major midfield target

Barcelona are reportedly ready to try and use their strong relationship with super agent Jorge Mendes to hijack a Liverpool midfielder move this summer.

The Catalan giants are expected to bolster their squad despite their financial struggles, with free transfers likely to be their main source of fresh arrivals.

And, according to Relevo, Wolves star Matheus Nunes in one of several targets the Catalan giants want to bring in.

The Molineux midfielder was a target for the Reds before he made the move to Wolves last summer and has remained on Jurgen Klopp’s radar.

The Reds boss is expected to oversee a major rebuild of his engine room this summer, with the possibility of two new additions arriving at Anfield.

A proposed swoop for Jude Bellingham now appears to be out of the question as both Manchester clubs now weigh up a deal, although there are several other names linked with a switch to Merseyside.

Declan Rice remains a possibility, although Arsenal remain the favourites to land the West Ham man. Meanwhile, Chelsea duo Mason Mount and Connor Gallagher continue to be heavily linked.

Brighton star Alexis Mac Allister is another option, but Nunes is very much in the mix.

However, Barca are hoping to throw a spanner in the works by using Mendes to get their man.

The 24-year-old has made a strong impression in his first season at Molineux, scoring once in 32 appearances for Wolves.

The box-to-box-midfielder cost a club record £38million when he arrived last summer. However, Wolves are now thought to have removed a £44m release clause that would be active this summer.

Barca financial woes give Liverpool hope

And even though Relevo adds that Barca hope that Mendes can strike a deal between the two clubs, a high transfer fee could create a big problem for the Nou Camp side.

Their financial predicament will almost certainly price them out of any big-money transfers, unless it can be resolved by the summer.

To that end, Liverpool still have a chance of landing Nunes, assuming that Wolves are willing to do business that is.

The Reds are back in action on Monday evening when they head to Leeds in the Premier League.

Victory at Elland Road will close the gap to the top four to nine points, although Champions League aspirations are looking increasingly unlikely.

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