Liverpool plotting £44m move for midfielder Guardiola called 'one of the best', would be an ideal signing

Liverpool are plotting a £44 million move to sign Wolves midfielder Matheus Nunes, according to reports.

The Reds have already completed business in the January window, bringing in Cody Gakpo from PSV for an initial fee believed to be in the region of £38 million.

Since then, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has been keen to downplay the possibility of any more major business during the month.

Prior to Monday's 3-1 defeat to Brentford in the Premier League, the German said (quotes via Daily Mirror): "I am here seven years and it is every window, pretty much the same. We talk about these things as though money didn't play a role - it is never like this.

He went on to add: "We cannot play like Monopoly. Of course, we cannot just spend, and never could.

"It is a big part of my philosophy, working full of faith and trust with the players we have, and not constantly telling them we need another player in the position."

However, Klopp did say: "If there is something we can do, and that means right player and financial situation, we will do it."

With that in mind, a new report suggests the Reds are targeting a bid for a current Premier League star.

Liverpool keen on Matheus Nunes

According to The Telegraph, Liverpool have returned to Wolves star Matheus Nunes as a midfield transfer option, after he left Sporting Lisbon in the summer.

Wolves paid a club-record £42.2 million to bring the Portugal international to Molineux in the summer, with the 24-year-old seen as the marquee signing for then manager Bruno Lage at the time.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola described Nunes as 'one of the best in the world' when the midfielder was at Sporting.

But he has struggled with injuries thus far this season, and Wolves' Premier League status for next season is currently far from certain.

It is claimed by the same source that Liverpool made a commitment to bid for the midfielder once again at a later date, and it is believed a deal could be done for £44 million.

Nunes could be an ideal signing for the Reds, with fans and pundits believing that their midfield is in desperate need of new additions.

Speaking after the defeat to Brentford, Reds legend and Sky pundit Jamie Carragher exclaimed: "Liverpool's transfer committee, or the people behind Jurgen Klopp, and Jurgen Klopp, have been absolutely lauded more than any scuotuing network in world football. This is on them.

"To allow a team who almost won four trophies last season, to end up at the stage where they are fighting for top four, because midfield now has only had one player signed in four and a half years. They're absolutely running in fumes."