Liverpool

Liverpool

Premier League • England

Euro Paper Talk: Liverpool dip back into Portugal market as contact made for £50m ace; Newcastle ‘seduce’ club with transfer bid

Sporting players Matheus Nunes and Tiago Tomas

Liverpool are hoping to sign a midfielder with a £50.6million release clause and have made contact with his club, Newcastle are still in the mix for Stade Reims striker Hugo Ekitike and Chelsea are eyeing a move for an AC Milan star – all in Wednesday’s Euro Paper Talk.

LIVERPOOL WANT SPORTING LISBON ACE

Liverpool have plans to improve their ageing midfield and are plotting a move for Sporting Lisbon star Matheus Nunes, according to reports.

With Jordan Henderson now 32, and Thiago 31, Jurgen Klopp could do with a couple of new midfielders in the next few years.

Liverpool have regularly been linked with Borussia Dortmund star Jude Bellingham. But he will cost a huge fee and is also a target for Spanish giants Real Madrid.

An alternative to Bellingham is Sporting’s Nunes, who has won eight caps for the Portugal national team so far.

The central midfielder made 39 appearances during Sporting’s Primeira Liga triumph in the 2020-21 campaign.

He became even more important for the Portuguese club last season, playing in 50 matches across all competitions and registering four goals, as well as five assists.

Nunes has won several trophies while at Sporting and could now swap them for a new challenge.

According to Portuguese outlet Jornal de Noticias (via Paisley Gates), Liverpool have made contact with Sporting about Nunes’ availability.

Could Matheus Nunes solve Liverpool's midfield problem?

Could Matheus Nunes solve Liverpool's midfield problem?

Liverpool have turned their attention to Matheus Nunes as a potential Jude Bellingham alternative.

Wolves and Chelsea have previously asked whether the 23-year-old is eligible for a move. But their hopes might be scuppered now Klopp’s side have joined the race.

Nunes has a release clause which sits at £50.6m, while his contract runs until June 2026. Despite this, Sporting will allow the Rio de Janeiro born-player to leave for £33.7m.

A sale for this amount would help them strengthen other areas of the pitch. For Liverpool, it would represent great value for a player who has all the attributes to shine in the Premier League.

Whereas Bellingham is rated at over £100m, the Reds are able to pick up Nunes for just over a third of this sum.

Liverpool have already captured Luis Diaz from Porto and Darwin Nunez from Benfica this year. They are now set to go back into the Portuguese market and bring Nunes to England.

NEWCASTLE ‘SEDUCE’ FRENCH CLUB WITH OFFER

Reims striker Hugo Ekitike

Newcastle are not out of the frame for Hugo Ekitike just yet after having ‘seduced’ Stade Reims with a £29.5m offer for the France U20 forward. (L’Equipe)

Sasa Kalajdzic remains calm about his future, despite rumours of a Man Utd transfer. He says his focus is on current club Stuttgart. (Sky Germany)

Napoli boss Luciano Spalletti says he will wish Kalidou Koulibaly ‘all the best’ if the centre-back moves to Chelsea. (Football Italia)

Leeds United are in talks with Juan Mata and his entourage over a move to Elland Road, following the Spaniard’s Manchester United exit. (AS)

Francisco Trincao will join Sporting on loan with an obligation to buy from Barcelona. The winger spent last season on loan at Wolves. (Fabrizio Romano)

Southampton have shown an interest in signing Bologna and Sweden midfielder Mattias Svanberg, although Napoli have made a bid to land him first. (Football Italia)

CHELSEA MONITORING AC MILAN FORWARD

AC Milan star Rafael Leao

Chelsea are keeping tabs on Rafael Leao’s situation at AC Milan and will ‘pounce’ if he decides not to pen a new contract in Italy. (Gazzetta dello Sport)

Alexander Isak has concerns about a move to Newcastle and instead wants to remain at Real Sociedad. (Mundo Deportivo)

Frenkie de Jong’s representatives have told Barcelona he wants to stay, despite them trying to force through a move to Man Utd. (Fabrizio Romano)

Sergio Reguilon’s loan switch to Sevilla from Tottenham will take time as the Spanish outfit cannot match his wages currently. (AS)

Wolves will accept a bid of just £10m for Adama Traore after Barca pulled out of a permanent move for the pacy winger. (Football Insider)

TOTTENHAM MAN A TARGET FOR ITALIAN GIANTS

Japhet Tanganga controlling the ball for Tottenham Hotspur

Serie A champions Milan have phoned the agent of Tottenham defender Japhet Tanganga to discuss a possible loan switch. (Calciomercato)

Leeds goalkeeper Kiko Casilla is a target for Granada and the Whites may terminate his contract a year early to let him go. (Grada3)

Mason Mount has revealed contract renewal talks with Chelsea will start ‘soon’ as he is very happy to remain at Stamford Bridge. (Evening Standard)

Free agent Luis Suarez has emerged on Monza’s radar following their promotion to Serie A, and they can afford his wages thanks to being owned by Silvio Berlusconi. (Gazzetta dello Sport)