Chelsea are ready to submit a bid worth around £43million to sign Sporting CP midfielder Matheus Nunes. That's according to Portuguese outlet A Bola, who claim that the Blues are ready to offer €45m (£38.6m) and a further €5m (£4.3m) in add-ons.
Nunes, who has four years remaining on his contract with Sporting, played 33 times for his side in Portugal's top division last season – scoring three goals and recording two assists. The 23-year-old is a very tricky midfielder, but also has the industrial side to his game.
The Portugal international does not shirk his defensive duties, making him the perfect modern-day central midfielder. Someone who can do everything – and if reports are to be believed, then this has attracted Thomas Tuchel.
READ MORE: Matheus Nunes has already given Chelsea transfer verdict as Todd Boehly plan clear amid £43m bid
With the likes of Jorginho and Ross Barkley being linked with moves away, Chelsea could be very short on central midfielders by the time the 2022/23 season begins. Declan Rice is still a big target for the Blues, but West Ham United remain determined to keep the midfielder.
Nunes is one of Jorge Mendes' clients, and with the football super-agent recently meeting with new Chelsea owner and interim sporting director Todd Boehly, the links do make sense. If Pep Guardiola's 12-word verdict is anything to go by, then Chelsea could be getting themselves one of the most promising talents in world football.
Speaking after his Manchester City side beat Sporting CP in the Champions League last season, Guardiola said: "Matheus Nunes is one of the best players in the world today."
There are no shortage of suitors for Nunes. The likes of Manchester City and Wolves have also been linked with making a move for the midfielder. However, he is fully committed to Sporting at the moment.
"My goal is to fulfil the contract [until 2026]," he told Portuguese newspaper Correio da Manha recently. "I have a contract with Sporting.
"There is no point transferring me. I am happy at Sporting. The Portuguese league is a great league."
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