Reports from Portugal suggest Matheus Nunes believes a move to the Premier League is imminent.
According to CM Sport, Chelsea are still one of the clubs most interested in a deal, although they face stiff competition for his signature.
The 23-year-old put the world on notice after a stellar season for Sporting Lisbon last year, impressing particularly in the Champions League.
Reports have suggested that up to 20 of Europe’s elite clubs are interested in a deal for Nunes, however the Blues have frequently been mentioned as one of the club’s linked closest to a deal.
They may now be encouraged by the Portugal international’s stance on his future, with CM Sport claiming he is confident of a Premier League move as his next venture, with the Portuguese outfit prepared to accept around £42.5m for a deal.
Nunes wants PL move
The move could come as a result of uncertainty over the future of their current midfield options, with Jorginho in particular claiming he is unsure over his future.
However, the quality of Nunes means he is unlikely to settle for a rotation role, and the quality of the Italian, added to N’golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic would make nailing down a starting role a difficult prospect.
This is without even mentioning Conor Gallagher, who has returned from his successful loan spell at Crystal Palace last season.
The England international’s impressive first friendly appearance will only inspire him to push for more minutes in the first team, further adding to potential competition for Nunes.
There is also competition from Liverpool in particular for his signature, with central midfield the noticeable area the Reds can upgrade as they look to push on from their quadruple-threatening campaign.
The fact he would seamlessly fit into Jurgen Klopp’s midfield alone should encourage the Blues to act, with them further strengthening only likely to bring them further away from Chelsea in the table.
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