Matheus Nunes has taken an unusually bold stance at Wolverhampton Wanderers (Wolves), suspending training and going on strike to push through his move to Premier League champions Manchester City. This dramatic step comes after Manchester City offered just PS47 million for him; Wolves rejected this offer due to an asking price that is more than PS60 million.
Manchester City are in need of a midfield transfer immediately due to Kevin De Bruyne’s injury that will keep him sidelined for approximately four months, necessitating surgery on his hamstring. This could make this potential transfer even more important. Their initial pursuit of Lucas Paquetá was also derailed by an ongoing Football Association investigation into an alleged betting breach by the Brazilian earlier this year.
Wolves, on the other hand, seem unwavering in their resolve to stand firm on their valuation of Nunes, a 25-year-old talent they acquired just last summer in a record-breaking deal worth £42 million from Sporting Lisbon. Nunes, who missed Wolves’ recent 1-0 victory against Everton due to suspension, is expected to face disciplinary action for his refusal to attend training. Nevertheless, Wolves have maintained a strong position in this transfer saga as Nunes is contractually bound to the club until 2027, with an additional 12-month option in their favor.
While Manchester City has yet to submit an official second bid for Nunes, they are determined to expedite the transfer. Should negotiations continue to stall, Wolves have plans to reintegrate the midfielder into their first-team squad, bolstering their midfield options.
Wolves, eager to strengthen their squad before the impending transfer deadline, are navigating financial fair play regulations that limit their spending. The club has shown interest in Manchester City’s young talent, Tommy Doyle, a 21-year-old midfielder who impressed while on loan at Sheffield United last season. Wolves did, however, miss out on securing Alex Scott, who joined Bournemouth due to valuation disagreements. Frustration over transfer deals led manager Julen Lopetegui to leave before the season even kicked off.
Fulham are expected to announce the acquisition of Belgian full-back Timothy Castagne from Leicester City for an estimated fee estimated in the region of PS13 Million, while Leicester may see departures such as Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho due to being relegated last season.
