Author: Amrit Santlani
Manchester City have agreed a deal to sign Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Matheus Nunes after the Premier League champions cooled their interest in Brazilian midfielder Lucas Paquetá.
The three-time champions have reached a formal agreement with Wolves for 53 million pounds. The transfer also includes a future sale clause worth 10% to Wolves when City want to get rid of the 25-year-old.
The Portuguese player will undergo medical tests at the Etihad Stadium as Pep Guardiola’s side look to strengthen their midfield.
Previously, City had agreed a deal with Brazilian midfielder Paquetá, however, the West Ham United star is being investigated for deliberately receiving yellow cards. City also had an offer rejected for Nunes last week, and Wolves were hoping to receive a fee closer to their £60 million valuation.
The Portuguese midfielder was absent from training as he had made it clear that he wanted to join the Premier League first-team. The deal will see England Under-21 international Tommy Doyle go in the other direction.
Wolves have agreed a loan move worth £4.3 million, and the deal also includes a potential 50% sell-on clause for Doyle.
Earlier in the day, City suffered a major blow as the reigning champions lost their talismanic midfielder Kevin de Bruyne to a hamstring injury, which could see the Belgium international sidelined for four months.
Nunes had already signed a five-year contract last summer, when the club paid a record £38 million to Sporting Lisbon. Wolves manager Gary O’Niel had said he hoped the 25-year-old midfielder would remain at the club beyond the transfer window deadline on Friday, following the club’s Carabao Cup win over Blackpool.
Wolves finished 13th in the Premier League table last season after signing Nunes, but he appears to be on his way to the Etihad.
Earlier, City also signed Mateo Kovacic from Chelsea, before selling Cole Palmer to Chelsea as the busy summer continues for the Cityzens. Nunes will be the club’s last piece of business before the transfer window closes.