Liverpool look set to agree a deal for Wolves’ Matheus Nunes in the region of €50m (£44m) for the summer.
This claim comes courtesy of The Telegraph and the outlet reports that Pep Lijnders’ growing influence at the club has played a role in arranging the transfer.
“The club are set to return to their summer target Matheus Nunes, the Portugal international, formerly at Sporting Lisbon, and another recommendation from Lijnders before he finally joined Wolverhampton Wanderers,” Sam Wallace wrote for the publication. “Liverpool have committed to return for the 24-year-old attacking midfielder, and as it stands, a deal will be reached for around €50m (£44m) for him to join in the summer.”
The Dutchman’s level of involvement in decision-making appears to have become a concern for fans online in light of the Reds’ struggles on the pitch this term.
“As the recruiting picture has changed at Liverpool, Lijnders’ influence on that side of the club has grown exponentially,” the journalist added.
“Head coach Michael Edwards signaled his imminent departure in November 2021 and his successor Julian Ward is now working on his announcement having only taken over in July.
“Three of the four great signings that Liverpool have made in the last two seasons -Díaz, Darwin Núñez and now Gakpo- have been defended by Lijnders.
“Which is not to say that they were bad acquisitions, just that a Dutch manager who spent his formative years as a manager in Portugal has been drawn to players who have come of age in that country’s leagues.”
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A growing consensus is that there has been a lack of tackles boasting a high level of physicality, favoring technicality, leaving a once high-octane midfield a shadow of their former self.
Such an assessment is not fair to Lijnders: Liverpool have not signed a senior midfielder since Thiago Alcantara in 2020.
Fabio Carvalho, supposedly destined to be in midfield, has been used as a left forward and central midfielder with varying levels of success.
The reality remains that we have not been able to properly invest in midfield, although you have to remember that attempts were made last summer to bring genuine quality with an attempt made by former Monaco star Aurelien Tchouameni and further inquiries were sent to Borussia Dortmund for Jude. Bellingham.
What a different picture we would have if our recruiting team had managed to make just one such addition in 2022.
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