Wolves reject Manchester City’s opening offer for Matheus Nunes

Manchester City have received an ‘instant’ rejection from Wolverhampton Wanderers after lodging their opening bid for midfielder Matheus Nunes.

The Premier League champions appear to have the Portugal international star at the very top of their refined midfield shortlist for the remaining weeks of the ongoing summer transfer window, but face a battle to persuade the Midlands club to sell.

Interest in Nunes follows frustrations over their earlier pursuit of Lucas Paqueta, after a potential £80 million move for the Brazilian broke down due to an ongoing FIFA and FA investigation into allegations of betting.

Now, Manchester City have firmly refocussed their attentions elsewhere in the Premier League, with an official bid for Matheus Nunes accompanied by keen interest in Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze.

As first reported by John Percy of The Telegraph, Wolves have rejected an opening bid of around £47 million from Premier League champions Manchester City for their star central midfielder.

It is explained that City’s opening proposal was ‘instantly’ turned down by Molineux officials, however last season’s treble winners are set to return to the negotiating table with another offer in the coming days.

With regards to the difference in valuations between the two clubs, The Telegraph describe the Manchester City’s opening offer as having ‘fallen well short’ of Wolves’ price tag set on Nunes, however the mere evidence of a valuation will give some supporters hope.

It is yet to be made clear as to whether Manchester City will formalise their interest in Crystal Palace’s 25-year-old attacking midfielder Eberechi Eze in the coming days, despite the club having held an admiration for the Englishman for a number of months.

It is understood that senior scouts at the Premier League champions have become increasingly impressed with regards to Eze’s ability to control games for Roy Hodgson’s side, and as such believe he could be an ideal fit for Pep Guardiola’s system.

The Manchester City boss is currently out of action for the club having undergone emergency surgery on his back in Barcelona in recent days, leaving assistant coach Juanma Lillo to take charge of training and Premier League clashes against Sheffield United and Fulham in the coming weeks ahead.