Wolves manager outlines Matheus Nunes transfer stance after rejecting £47 million Manchester City bid

Gary O’Neil has outlined Wolves’ stance regarding the sale of midfielder Matheus Nunes to Manchester City.

Manchester City are preparing a second bid to Wolves after seeing an opening £47 million offer rejected by the Midlands club on Thursday, with the Wanderers reportedly holding out for a £60 million transfer fee.

Nunes moved to Molineux from Sporting Lisbon for a club-record £38 million last summer, but could complete a transfer to the Etihad Stadium amid ongoing Financial Fair Play concerns at Wolves.

The 24-year-old made 41 appearances for Wolves last season and emerged as a transfer target alongside Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze, after the Sky Blues’ mooted £85 million move for Lucas Paqueta collapsed over a bombshell FA investigation into the player.

Nunes, who was born in Brazil but represents Portugal internationally, could feature for Wolves in the Premier League on Saturday, when Gary O’Neil’s side travel to Goodison Park to face Everton.

Prior to Wolves’ Premier League clash, O’Neil outlined the club’s stance regarding the potential sale of the central midfielder during the closing days of the summer transfer window.

“If Manchester City come calling, most people in world football are going to be interested in that,” said the newly-appointed Wolves manager.

“But Matheus [Nunes] understands the contract situation. He understands the club’s stance, he’s part of the group until he isn’t.”

Manchester City accelerated plans to sign a new midfielder after Kevin De Bruyne suffered a significant hamstring injury, ruling the 32-year-old out until 2024.

The Blues’ next bid to Wolves for Nunes could potentially involve a player as part-exchange, with claims that Tommy Doyle could be used as a makeweight as part of a deal to sign the Portuguese midfielder.

Doyle, who helped Sheffield United return to the top-flight during a season-long loan at Bramall Lane last season, is a long-standing transfer target at Molineux.

Nunes would become Manchester City’s fourth first-team addition of the summer, following the arrivals of Mateo Kovacic, Josko Gvardiol and Jeremy Doku.

Doku completed a £55.4 million move to the Etihad Stadium on Thursday, moving to the Premier League from Rennes in the French top division.