Man City ‘exploring deal’ for Liverpool target with £70m Palace man also on ‘small’ list of Paqueta alternatives

Man City transfer targets Eberechi Eze and Matheus Nunes Credit: Alamy

Manchester City have reportedly put Wolves’ Matheus Nunes and Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze on their shortlist of targets after a move for Lucas Paqueta collapsed.

The Citizens were pursuing a deal for West Ham’s Paqueta before the Football Association reportedly opened an investigation into the Brazilian over ‘potential betting breaches’.

West Ham had slapped a £110m price tag on his head with Man City having a £95m bid turned down by the Hammers before the deal collapsed.

Speaking in his Caught Offside column this morning, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano commented: “Manchester City board consider the Lucas Paqueta deal off since last week — no changes, they’re already looking at different options.”

And those different options have begun to emerge with The Athletic journalist David Ornstein insisting that Man City are ‘exploring a deal to sign’ Wolves midfielder Matheus Nunes.

After their efforts for Paqueta were ‘derailed’ by the FA probe, Man City are ‘considering a small number of candidates to fill the void and Portugal international Nunes is high among them’.

READ MORE: Kalvin Phillips and Man City must agree on what’s best for his career: a summer transfer (to Liverpool)

Nunes, who only joined Wolves last summer from Sporting Lisbon, has already been linked with Liverpool too but the Molineux club are ‘unlikely to welcome City’s interest so close to the summer market closing’.

However, Wolves are in a difficult financial position and could be forced to sell for the right price especially if it allows them to ‘bolster their squad in multiple areas’.

Ornstein mentions that Crystal Palace attacking midfielder Eze is also on Man City’s list ‘as they decide a preferred option to pursue’ – but a report from the Daily Mail goes into more detail.

The newspaper claims that Man City are ‘weighing up a move’ for Eze and ‘has been on City’s radar for the last six months after senior scouts were left heavily impressed by his control of games for the Eagles’.

Story continues

Sources have told the Daily Mail that City ‘have merely retained a watching brief’ this summer but there is a hint that they could ‘formalise interest’ in the England international after the latest Paqueta developments.

Crystal Palace are ‘expected to demand north of £70m’ if Man City or any other club attempt to take Eze away from south London so late in the transfer window.

It is understood that ‘any possible bid will likely test Palace’s resolve’ because the 25-year-old is out of contract in two years’ time.

The article Man City ‘exploring deal’ for Liverpool target with £70m Palace man also on ‘small’ list of Paqueta alternatives appeared first on Football365.com.