Chelsea submit £43m bid for Sporting Lisbon star Matheus Nunes

Interestingly Nunes is a client of Jorge Mendes’ Gestifute agency and it was Mendes who reportedly met with Boehly recently with the topic of a move for Cristiano Ronaldo on the agenda.

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel is reportedly plotting a move for Sporting star Matheus Nunes

A report in Portuguese newspaper A Bola says that a bid from Chelsea is imminent for Nunes

Thomas Tuchel has not made a single addition so far this summer despite interest in defender Jules Kounde, Raheem Sterling and Raphinha, as well as growing talk around Cristiano Ronaldo and now Nunes.

New Chelsea owner Boehly wants to make an immediate impact on the club this summer and Nunes would represent a smart piece of business in freshening up the club’s midfield options.

The 23-year-old central midfielder dazzled in last season’s Champions League and shone so bright that Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola even singled him out for praise.

New Chelsea owner Todd Boehly recently met with Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes, who also looks after business affairs for Nunes

Nunes is highly rated and Pep Guardiola once described him as one of the best in the world

‘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,’ Guardiola said.

‘I would say that Matheus Nunes is one of the best players in the world today.’

Chelsea are desperate to freshen their team up this summer in a bid to close the gap on Man City and Liverpool.

Matthijs de Ligt was Chelsea’s number one defensive target but he could join Bayern Munich

Defence is a priority and Chelsea’s need for Manchester City’s Nathan Ake has grown stronger amid fears Juventus defender Matthijs de Ligt could choose Bayern Munich over a move to London.

Chelsea are willing to offer a higher fee than the Germans of around £68m.

The Blues had identified De Ligt as one of their key transfer targets and offered Timo Werner as part of the deal but were unable to reach an agreement with Juventus.

Tuchel is eager to bring in a high-profile centre back having already lost Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen.