Former Liverpool defender claims the club may have to pay double to sign Matheus Nunes

Speaking to Betfred (h/t Liverpool Echo), former Liverpool defender Glen Johnson has claimed that the club may need to pay double what Wolverhampton Wanderers did to sign Matheus Nunes.

In the preceding summer window, Wolves paid £38m to sign the Portugal international from Sporting Lisbon. Johnson says Liverpool might have to pay £76m to sign the player in the coming summer.

The Reds were linked with Nunes last summer too but did not make a move. In the last weeks, reports have resurfaced the links between the two parties, claiming that the Merseyside club will look to sign him for £44m at the end of this season.

Here’s what Johnson said regarding the deal (h/t Liverpool Echo):

“It’s hard to believe that Wolves would sell one of their main men for a £6 million profit. If Liverpool offered Wolves double what they paid for him then they’d probably usher him out of the door.”

“I think Wolves would certainly hold out for more money, but I definitely believe he’s a good player and he’s caught the eye of many clubs.”

One thing is clear: Liverpool needs to sign more than one midfielder, either now or in the summer window. The team lacks depth, legs and quality in that department by some margin and it is showing in the performances this season.

In the last year or so, Nunes has shown his class and quality as a player. He is a central midfielder who can also operate as a number 10. The 24-year-old is an excellent passer of the ball, can control the tempo of the game, has a good recovery pace and has an eye for a goal.

For an instance, we saw how easy it was for him against the Liverpool midfield during the FA Cup tie last Saturday. Although rating a player’s performance against our current midfield is not the best thing to do, it still shows that he is better than what we have currently.

So, now the club is playing catch up having missed out on the rebuild last summer. Add that to the fact that every person in this world knows that Liverpool need midfielders. Hence, clubs will evaluate their players at a higher price knowing the Reds are coming.

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Therefore, Johnson is perhaps right that Wolves won’t let Nunes go for easy money. They can see the urgency we have in central midfield and given they signed the player just last summer, would have significant control over his immediate future.