Chelsea plotting to 'hijack' Liverpool's transfer bid for Mateus Nunes

Chelsea are set to frustrate another one of their so-called 'Big Six' rivals by joining the race to sign Wolves midfielder Matheus Nunes.

The Portugal international, 24, is on Liverpool's transfer shortlist but he cannot leave Molineux in January having already played for two clubs this season. Nunes made two outings for former team Sporting Lisbon before joining Wolves for £38million last August.

Chelsea have already hijacked two transfers under Todd Boehly's ownership by beating Arsenal to Mykhaylo Mudryk's signature earlier this month. They also signed Joao Felix, who was a target for the Gunners and Manchester United, on loan from Atletico Madrid.

As reported by the Daily Mail, Chelsea are interested in signing Nunes and could battle Liverpool for his signature in the summer. Both teams are 10 points behind Manchester United in fourth in the Premier League and are looking to improve their respective squads.

Jurgen Klopp has admitted Liverpool do not have a budget that can challenge the Premier League's richest sides, including Chelsea. The Blues have been the biggest spenders in Europe since Boehly's takeover last summer, investing more than £400m in players.

Boehly has adopted a tactic of blowing his rivals out of the water, financially speaking, and this was evident with Mudryk's move to Stamford Bridge. Every Premier League club will be concerned about entering a transfer battle with Graham Potter's side.

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Nunes has impressed since joining Wolves - making 17 Premier League appearances. He's missed just two games in all competitions for the club since his move, which proves his importance to the team. He has 11 senior caps for Portugal, scoring once.

Despite the arrival of Nunes, Wolves are struggling in the Premier League. They are 17th in the table and only outside of the relegation zone on goal difference. That being said, their prospects have improved since the appointment of Julen Lopetegui two months ago.

Liverpool may be annoyed at their failure to sign Nunes last summer. They were considering a move but decided against it in the end, allowing Wolves to swoop in. The West Midlands club will want more than £38m for his signature after his start to life in England.

Klopp snapped at a reporter in a press conference earlier this month after being quizzed on Liverpool's transfer plans. He moaned: "Do I have to tell you the money story again? Really? Do I have to tell you again? What could be the reason? That we have money like crazy but we don't buy the players even if they are available?

"Why are you asking questions when the answer is on the table? I really don't understand that. I really don't understand that. You drove here today and this is the question you ask? You know the answer!"

Klopp also highlighted his team's injury woes. He added: "On top of that, four of our offensive players are injured, they will come back. We will have seven strikers then, we can't even put them all on the Champions League list. Injuries are a big shadow over us."