Liverpool ready for "negotiations" over €50M transfer as key factor could "accelerate" Julian Ward's talks

Liverpool have made signing Sporting Lisbon midfielder, Matheus Nunes, their priority for the rest of the transfer window with talks set to take place.

According to CM Journal, the Reds are "preparing to start negotiations with Sporting with a view to signing him."

Despite already signing Fabio Carvalho, Darwin Nunez and Calvin Ramsay, Liverpool "will advance" for Nunes' arrival this summer and are aware of Sporting's demands.

The Portuguese outfit is demanding a payment structure of €45M plus €5M in "objectives" or add-ons which would make a very suitable signing for Liverpool.

While Darwin Nunez could reportedly cost FSG £85M in total, only £61M of that is guaranteed with £24M in add-ons potentially taking his total fee to a club-record high for the Anfield outfit, as per Sky Sports.

Regarding Nunes, Sporting are firm on their stance that "there will be no discounts" and Liverpool will have to pay their asking price or move on.

The Merseysiders have also been warned that there is Premier League competition for the Portugal international with Manchester City and Wolves interested.

The latter has become well known for its strong Portuguese contingent that features the likes of Ruben Neves while the Reds poached Diogo Jota from the Molineux.

CM Journal states that competition for Nunes' signature could "accelerate" the 23-year-old's departure from Portugal but it seems at the moment that Liverpool are the only side seriously interested.

Sporting director Julian Ward may have a free shot at completing his fourth signing in his first summer in his new role.

At the very least, this means that Nunes' asking price should not be bloated by competition and if all goes well and there is truth to this report, Liverpool could finally add a new central midfielder to their ranks.

This would be a direct contradiction of Jurgen Klopp's repeated defiance regarding Liverpool's need for a new midfielder but if the German doesn't add a new player to his engine room, it shouldn't be the end of the world.

While Naby Keita and Thiago remain injury-prone, Harvey Elliott, Curtis Jones and Fabio Carvalho have shone so far this summer while even 17-year-old Stefan Bajcetic has excited fans with his latest display against RB Leipzig.