Liverpool $66m transfer could find next Gini Wijnaldum as Jürgen Klopp set for next close look

Liverpool have been heavily linked with the Portugal international, who joined Wolves in August when they are expected to look to replace several established stars in this summer’s transfer market.

As Liverpool prepare to take on Wolves at Anfield in midweek, eyes will surely be drawn to the name of Matheus Nunes, who may well be set for another audition ahead of Jurgen Klopp.

Nunes, who joined Wolves from Sporting Lisbon in August last year, has been heavily linked with a move to Liverpool with a trio of midfield stars – James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keïta – all ready to go as free agents this summer. , it seems like

It looks like Klopp’s side are playing Wolves every two weeks at the moment, with the Reds beaten at Molineux earlier this month after two FA Cup clashes a few weeks earlier, but this will be the last opportunity for the most Liverpool fans to lay a glimpse of the Portuguese international ahead of the summer.

Long touted as a potential target for Liverpool in the months leading up to his August move to Wolves, Nunes will likely be a name to consider as Klopp attempts to revitalize his squad ahead of next season. Of course, Jude Bellingham seems to be the club’s main midfield target ahead of the next transfer window. However, it is clear Liverpool will need several reinforcements in this area of ​​the pitch and Nunes could feel there are opportunities for him at Anfield this week.

There is a long-standing trend under Klopp to sign players who played well against Liverpool during his tenure, such as Sadio Mane, Gini Wijnaldum and Takumi Minamino. While scouting over an extended period of time will no doubt be the primary way staff identify the most suitable players to target this summer, a strong showing against the Reds won’t hurt Nunes’ position.

Part of the reason Liverpool are following the midfielder’s progress ahead of a potential $66m (£55m/€62m) move (according to The Telegraph) will be his obvious aptitude when it comes to wearing the ball and the ability to beat a man. from midfield. Over the past year, the 17-time international has comfortably ranked among the best midfielders in Europe, according to some key stats according to FBREF

Subscribers to our newsletter get a roundup from one of Liverpool FC’s top writers Monday to Friday, straight to your inbox, completely free of charge. Nunes is in the 86th percentile of midfielders in the top five European leagues in terms of transfer progress and has set the same number in terms of successful signings over the past 365 days. Furthermore, in terms of progressive passes received, the midfielder is in the 94th percentile, proving that he is not afraid to take the ball and control his team during transitions.

Basically, if you want a player who can provide offensive momentum and get your team onto the pitch with regularity, Nunes would be a reliable asset in this regard. In many ways, these traits seem to personify the kind of intensity and vitality that Liverpool currently seem to lack in midfield.

Jürgen Klopp’s ‘heavy metal football’ has seemed like a thing of the past of late, as Liverpool’s aging midfield has struggled to replicate his old strength, but Nunes looks like the sort of player who could be part of that industry to to recover. This is not to disparage the 23-year-old’s technical prowess, of course, but it is simply a fact that the harder a midfielder works than Klopp, the more capable Liverpool attacking full-backs are seen to be operating at full capacity and using ammunition. to cater for the attackers.

As David Comerford pointed out in a previous article on Liverpool.com, Nunes has played a variety of roles for Wolves this season and has mainly operated on the left rather than in the center since the appointment of Julen Lopetegui.

This flexibility is likely to appeal to Jürgen Klopp as it demonstrates the player’s clear tactical mind. After all, the aforementioned Wijnaldum was used in a similar role for Newcastle before becoming a central midfielder at Anfield.

Chance is knocking for the esteemed Portuguese talent at Anfield this week. On Wednesday night, he could secure his move to Merseyside by showing Liverpool what they are currently missing.