Liverpool are reportedly still keeping tabs on midfielder Matheus Nunes despite his club-record move to Wolverhampton Wanderers this summer.
The 24-year-old completed his big-money switch to Molineux from Sporting Lisbon last month for a fee believed to be around £38m (€45m) plus £4.2m (€5m) in add-ons.
Wolves managed to fight off competitions from the likes of Liverpool and Chelsea to land the midfielder on a five-year contract, and he has since started in each of their last four Premier League games.
Despite his move to Wolves, Portuguese news outlet UOL claims that Jurgen Klopp's side still hold an interest in the eight-cap Portugal international.
The report adds that the midfielder's agent Jorge Mendes has an "increasingly close and trusting relationship" with Liverpool's new sporting director Julian Ward, which could favour both parties if they decide to enter negotiations.
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Liverpool initially put plans to recruit a new midfielder on hold earlier this summer, but the club eventually decided to enter the market late in the window due to their increasing list of injuries in the midfield department.
Instead of splashing the cash on top targets such as Nunes, the Reds completed the deadline-day signing of Arthur Melo on a season long-loan deal from Juventus.
Liverpool have a £32.5m (€37.5m) option to recruit the 26-year-old in the summer of 2023, but a recent report suggests that the Reds may be willing to let the Brazilian leave in January if they plan to recruit a new midfielder.
UOL claims that Klopp's side do intend to invest heavily in a new midfielder in 2023 and Nunes is one of at least three names on their shortlist of targets.
Borussia Dortmund's Jude Bellingham and Benfica's Enzo Fernandez are two other names who Liverpool are believed to be monitoring closely.
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Bellingham, 19, is set to become one of the most-sought after midfielders within the next two transfer windows, with Liverpool facing competition from the likes of Manchester United, Manchester City and Real Madrid.
Liverpool are allegedly leading the race for the England international's signature at present, although the Reds may need to fork out a fee of at least £100m if they wish to prise him away from Dortmund.
Meanwhile, Fernandez only joined Benfica from River Plate in July, but UOL claims that the 21-year-old is 'on the rise' behind the scenes at Liverpool and they will keep an eye on his development with the Portuguese giants.
Liverpool have also been linked with Flamengo midfielder Joao Gomes, with one report stating that they are preparing to table a bid in either January of next summer for the 21-year-old.
Oliver Thomas
