Liverpool have been heavily linked with a move for Matheus Nunes and that speculation has escalated following the injury to Thiago Alcantara, however, a reliable source has now weighed in on the transfer rumour.

What's the latest?

According to The Athletic's Liverpool reporter James Pearce, Liverpool are not interested in signing Sporting CP midfielder Nunes before the transfer window closes.

Pearce replied to a supporter who had questioned the speculation surrounding a move for Nunes:

"Reported a few weeks ago when rumour first came up that LFC were not interested and believe that’s still the case."

Klopp could regret it

The Portuguese midfielder is probably the most closest linked player to making a move to Anfield at the moment, so if Pearce is adamant that Liverpool are not interested in the £42.2m target, then where does that leave Jurgen Klopp's midfield going into the upcoming games in the Premier League?

The Reds will host Crystal Palace in their next game on Monday and then head to Old Trafford for one of the most highly anticipated fixtures in the league calendar in a clash against Manchester United on 22nd of August, and at the moment the Liverpool boss is dealing with a number of injury issues in midfield.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is out with a serious hamstring injury, Curtis Jones is out with an injury that is set to see him sidelined for a month and now Thiago has also sustained a hamstring injury after limping off in the disappointing draw with Fulham at Craven Cottage last weekend.

The Spanish midfielder is believed to be out for around six weeks, but will now see another specialist to make sure the timeframe is accurate. Nevertheless, Liverpool can't afford another injury to hit the centre of the pitch over the next few weeks if they want to continue to compete at the highest level.

Klopp did speak out after the Fulham draw on the potential of a new midfielder coming into the squad on Merseyside, but claimed it "must make sense" to do so (via The Mirror):

"A transfer must make sense, now and in the long term. We still have eight midfielders, just some of them are injured at the moment. It's not a good situation at all, but we won't panic. We have to see how we react."

This is certainly not the first time the German coach has paid the price for having a small squad, as Liverpool had a tumultuous season in 2020/21 when their entire defence collapsed with injuries, leading to a season of struggles with the makeshift side managing a third place finish on the last day of the season.

As a result, Klopp could regret not making that extra midfielder signing this summer. Signing Nunes, or a like-minded midfielder, would allow his current central options the freedom to return to fitness when they are completely ready, and when they do suffer injuries to key players like Thiago, there won't be a huge drop off from the quality and technicality of his replacement. At the moment, that feels like it could well be the case.