Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola claimed that Matheus Nunes was "one of the best players in the world" last year - but it's Liverpool, rather than the reigning Premier League champions, who look set to try and prise the Wolves midfielder away from Molineux this month.
The Reds and City have struck up a fairly bitter rivalry in recent years after battling it out for domestic dominance but Jurgen Klopp's side have been off the pace in the top-flight this term and are in need of reinforcements in the winter transfer window.
Cody Gakpo has already arrived from PSV Eindhoven; and it now appears as though Klopp and the Anfield hierarchy have their sights set on bolstering their beleaguered midfield.
A fresh report from The Telegraph has outlined that Liverpool are set to rekindle their interest in Nunes. The 24-year-old only joined Wolves in the summer but it is believed that the Reds, who were linked with the playmaker, made a commitment to bid for his services again in the future after missing out.
Nunes' move to Wolves came with the caveat that he would be allowed to move to another English club once he had adapted to life in the top-flight.
The midfielder's big Premier League switch came just months after he was lauded by Guardiola - despite the fact that his side were smashed by Manchester City in the Champions League.
Speaking after City's thumping 5-0 win over Sporting Lisbon back in February, Guardiola said: "Sporting are a fantastic team, they are the champions of Portugal, which have a very strong league, with Porto and Benfica, they change the ball well, they have fast and intelligent players.
"I would say that Matheus Nunes is one of the best players in the world today. Despite the difficulties and some mistakes, I have to be very satisfied because we took a big step towards the next round."
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Nunes has failed to make a significant impact since joining Wolves, who are currently floundering near the foot of the Premier League table, but that hasn't deterred Liverpool from preparing a fresh approach for the Portuguese ace.
Liverpool's midfield is in desperate need of a revamp. The Reds were believed to biding their time in a bid to snap up Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund next summer; however, it now appears as though Real Madrid are in pole position to land the England prodigy.
Argentina's World Cup-winning midfield star Enzo Fernandez is also admired by the Anfield hierarchy, but the Reds do not have the financial flexibility to trigger the £106million release clause in Fernandez' contract this month.
A deal for Nunes would reportedly only set Liverpool back around £44m: a figure which makes the Wolves ace a far more attractive proposition.
