Liverpool are ‘not pursuing’ a deal to sign Matheus Nunes from Sporting Lisbon, despite the club’s depleted midfield options.
Jurgen Klopp is short of options in central midfield after Thiago Alcantara was ruled out for six weeks with a hamstring problem, with the Spain international joining Curtis Jones and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on the sidelines.
Naby Keita also missed the opening weekend draw at Fulham, though the Times‘ Paul Joyce is reporting that the Reds are not interested in a deal to sign Nunes at this time.
Liverpool have been linked with the 23-year-old, who is understood to have a release clause of £51m in his contract at Sporting, but are not set to pursue a move for the Brazilian-born Portugal international in the current window.
Klopp will instead hand increased minutes to Harvey Elliott, who is set to sign a new five-year contract at Anfield. The 19-year-old began last season in Liverpool’s first-choice XI, before suffering a serious ankle injury against Leeds in September.
Elliott came off the bench at Fulham and is expected to feature prominently in the coming weeks. The Reds have also been pleased with the development of Stefan Bajcetic, with the versatile 17-year-old set to be integrated into the senior set-up this season.
