Fabrizio Romano has provided an update on Manchester City’s pursuit of Matheus Nunes. According to the journalist, City’s the European champions have submitted a formal bid to Wolverhampton Wanderers for the Portuguese attacking midfielder, which was quickly rejected.
Manchester City Eyeing Nunes to Reinforce Their Midfield
Manchester City formal opening bid for Matheus Nunes was there despite the denials as revealed yesterday — €55m package not enough yet to convince Wolves 🔵🇵🇹
Negotiations expected to continue as City see Nunes as priority target since Wednesday. pic.twitter.com/Cks7sB32eM
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 24, 2023
First Official Bid Rejected by Wolves
Romano has reported that the Cityzens’ first official bid was rejected by the Wolves’ hierarchy. The bid was reportedly in the region of £47 million, including add-ons. The Wolverhampton-based club are unwilling to let their prized asset leave for that fee.
The Premier League champions will continue the negotiations as they consider the 24-year-old their top priority in midfield. Pep Guardiola is reportedly a big fan of the attacking midfielder. The Manchester club will push to wrap up the deal as quickly as possible, and hope to have the deal wrapped up within “24/48 hours”.
Watch: Pep Guardiola Will DEFEND Manchester City’s Treble – Here’s How
Personal Terms Agreed
The Italian journalist reported that despite Nunes’ club turning down the initial offer, the player has already chosen the Etihad as his next destination. Personal terms have been agreed between the City and the young midfielder. An improved bid may be on the way soon, and if the player pushes for the move club bosses may have to consider cashing in and using the money to reinforce the squad in multiple positions.
Why City Are Targeting Nunes
Pep Guardiola’s requirement for an attacking midfielder became urgent when their star midfielder, Kevin De Bruyne, suffered a serious injury during the club’s Premier League game against Burnley. The Belgian is expected to be out for a considerable amount of time.
The Champions League holders were on the verge of signing West Ham United’s Lucas Paqueta to replace some of the Belgian’s creativity and former captain Ilkay Gundagon’s box crashing tendancies. However, the deal collapsed at the last moment, which appears to have been the result of a betting probe into the player by the FA. Nunes has emerged as the club’s latest option and he could turn out to be a solid deputy for at the Etihad in the absence of the club’s talisman.
Read More: Manchester City Eyeing ‘Explosive’ Premier League Star After Missing Out on Paqueta
The player described as “world-class” by some media outlets, possesses well-rounded and strong fundamentals. His clearest strength is his ball carrying ability. The Portuguese international’s dribbling skills help him to carry the ball at high speed and drive at opponents, as highlighted by his exceptional performance against City’s rivals Manchester United earlier this month.
Photo Credit: Ank Kumar, CC-BY-SA 4.0