Matheus Nunes transfer plan spelled out amid revelation Wolves are only concrete suitor so far

Samuel Bannister 18 Jul 2022 3:35 PM

Wolves are the only club to have made a concrete move to sign Matheus Nunes from Sporting CP, but he will only leave if their offer is bettered, according to a report.

Nunes has been playing for Sporting since 2019, when he joined them from fellow Portuguese side Estoril. In the time since, the Brazil-born Portugal international has contributed seven goals and eight assists from 99 appearances.

Operating as a central midfielder, he has caught the attention of Wolves. They have had plenty of success in the Portuguese market in recent years.

Nunes could be the next to follow that trend, although there have been rumours of rival interest. Chelsea and Liverpool have been listed as contenders recently.

But according to Record, Wolves are the only side to establish concrete interest in the 23-year-old. In fact, they have made an offer worth €40m (£33.8m) up front with up to €10m (£8.5m) in add-ons.

The full package would be a record signing for Wolves, surpassing the €40m (then £36m) they spent on Fabio Silva in 2020.

For now, Sporting would only consider selling Nunes for a higher offer. They have him under contract until 2026.

Nunes is aware of Wolves’ interest. However, after talking with manager Ruben Amorim, he is leaning towards staying with Sporting for one more season. He would then be looking to transfer to a side with big ambition.

Sporting will allow Nunes to have some say over his future. According to Record, Wolves will always be an option this summer. But it remains to be seen if they can convince either club or player to change their plans.

Record still believe Nunes’ future is a topic of mystery in Lisbon this summer. Hence, all eyes will be on Wolves to see whether they can step up their pursuit.

Matheus Nunes may want to wait

Last season, Nunes played in the Champions League with Sporting. He will have that opportunity again this term after they qualified for the group stage by finishing second in their domestic league.

In contrast, Wolves would not be able to offer European football of any variety at this moment in time. They threatened to break into such territory at times last season, but ultimately fell short in 10th place in the Premier League.

Wolves have been building a good project in recent years. But maybe it makes sense for Nunes to enjoy the Champions League with Sporting now and then see where his suitors are at 12 months down the line.

Could Matheus Nunes solve Liverpool's midfield problem?

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

If clubs like Liverpool and Chelsea have been linked, there is also a chance they will firm up their interest if he performs well next term. Alternatively, Wolves may find a way to aim high again.

By that point, Nunes could assess his options better, so his plan seems to be a smart one.

Wolves Matheus Nunes