Matheus Nunes - what can Portuguese midfielder bring to Liverpool?

In Liverpool's 2-2 draw with Wolves last night, there was one player in the heart of Julen Lopetegui's midfield that was having one of his best games in a Wolves shirt - and we're not on about Ruben Neves. 

His Portuguese counterpart Matheus Nunes, Wolves' record signing from Sporting Lisbon for a fee believed to be around £38 million, showed his class off the bench in the Wolves midfield and showed why former boss Bruno Lage paid the money to bring him to the Black Country. But with rumours of him supposedly being allowed to join Liverpool next summer, what can the Portuguese maestro offer to Jurgen Klopp's side?

TITLE WINNER WITH SPORTING LISBON

During his time at Sporting Lisbon, Nunes played a crucial role in a double pivot in Ruben Amorim's 3-4-3 system as Sporting were crowned Liga Portugal champions in 2020/2021. Often playing next to one of current Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha or Manuel Ugarte, the Portuguese scored 3 goals and recorded 2 assists in 31 league appearances. Nunes had only joined Sporting on a free transfer in January 2020 after he left fellow Portuguese side Estoril, but it was under Amorim where he truly began to flourish. Ugarte and Palhinha were doing the defensive work, Nunes was the creator in the pivot - driving the ball forward, playing passes to Pedro Porro or Ruben Vinagre as wing-backs to either switch the play or work it wide for the cross.

MOVE TO WOLVES + BEING LINKED WITH LIVERPOOL

Whilst Nunes hasn't exactly set the world alight since coming to the Premier League, Liverpool need fresh faces and younger blood in Jurgen Klopp's midfield. Nunes is a player that fits the Klopp mould - someone who can play in a pressing system, has ability on the ball to split defences with key passes and can create chances and score goals. His performance against the Reds yesterday after coming off the bench highlights that he can dominate if given time on the ball, with Liverpool's midfield seeming to be non-existent every time the Portuguese was on the ball. According to Sam Wallace at the Daily Telegraph, Liverpool are planning to spend £44m on Nunes in the summer, even though they missed out on him in the last transfer window, as they did not want to pay the £38m which Wolves broke their transfer record for.

Would Nunes be a good signing for Liverpool next summer?

ANFIELD WATCH VERDICT

This is an interesting one. Why would Liverpool refuse to pay £38m for Nunes earlier this season, then decide to pay £44m to buy him next summer? We all know that Liverpool are in desperate need to refresh their midfield - but it would need to be more than just Matheus Nunes coming in - the Reds in my opinion I think will need at least 3 if not 4 midfielders to come in to freshen it up. Whether FSG give Klopp that sort of money it remains to be seen.