Wolves midfielder Matheus Nunes has gone on strike from training and has told the club that he ‘wants to join Manchester City’ as he looks to force through a move to the Premier League champions.
Manchester City’s need for a midfielder, already laid bare by Ilkay Gundogan’s departure, was made even more pressing by injury to Kevin De Bruyne in the opening game of the Premier League season, with the Belgian not expected to play again in 2023 after undergoing surgery on his hamstring.
They have seen one offer for Nunes, who Wolves only signed last summer, knocked back but are thought to have tabled a second bid in an attempt to get the deal done before Friday’s transfer deadline.
The new bid is believed to consist of a total of 60m euros, plus potential add ons, and follows their 55m euro bid being knocked back over the weekend.
Now in a bid to force through a move to the Etihad, Nunes has opted to go on strike, and the Athletic report that the midfielder ‘has stopped training with Wolverhampton Wanderers and informed the club of his wish to join Manchester City’, with personal terms already thought to have been agreed.
However, Wolves remain reluctant to sell one of their stars with just days left in the transfer window, and it is added that they are ‘determined to stand firm unless a proposal meets their valuation’.
Should Pep Guardiola’s side fail to land Nunes, it is believed that they are also strong admirers of Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze, though he would likely cost well in excess of £60m this late in the transfer window with Palace reluctant to sell.
The Cityzens have already recruited Croatian duo Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic from RB Leipzig and Chelsea respectively, as well as Belgian winger Jeremy Doku from Rennes in deals totaling over £150m.
