Liverpool BLOCKED from Matheus Nunes transfer

Cameron Smith

• 5 Jan 2023 05:03 CST
• 3 min read

Despite showing transfer interest in signing Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Matheus Nunes, FIFA regulations mean that Liverpool won't be able to land the Portuguese star this month.

Nunes, 24, only joined Wolves from Sporting CP in August 2022, but has already been tipped for a move to Anfield, with Jurgen Klopp's side looking for midfield reinforcements.

However, a regulation in FIFA's rulebook means that Liverpool won't sign the midfielder in January.

READ: Will Matheus Nunes join Liverpool in January?

Having signed for Wolves late in the summer transfer window, Nunes had already featured twice for Sporting in the 2022/23 campaign before arriving at Molineux, scoring once and assisting once in that time. Since then, he's made 17 appearances for the old gold, contributing one assist - against Southampton.

According to FIFA's set of rules and regulations, a player is only able to play competitively for two clubs in one season, meaning Nunes wouldn't be able to feature for Liverpool until next campaign.

Therefore, the Reds won't be adding the 11-time capped Portuguese international to their roster this month.

READ: Liverpool believe struggling Darwin Nunez will be a star

Liverpool's midfield hunt

Georginio Wijnaldum has still not yet been effectively replaced, while Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, James Milner and Thiago Alcantara are all ageing. Furthermore, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are both injury prone and out of contract this summer, while Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones are still young. As a result, midfield is a clear area of weakness for Liverpool.

Their attempts to sign Aurelien Tchouameni last summer were foiled by a superior offer from Real Madrid, and a bid for Jude Bellingham is expected in 2023.

Moises Caicedo has also been linked, although it remains to be seen whether Liverpool can afford the Ecuador international with Brighton likely to demand a similar fee, if not higher, than the one Chelsea paid to sign Marc Cucurella last August.

Therefore, Nunes has been pursued, but Liverpool won't be able to add him in January, with the Reds set to rely on their current crop of midfielders as they attempt to finish in one of the four Champions League spots.