Matheus Nunes has his heart set on staying with Sporting Lisbon despite long-running links with Premier League pair Everton and Newcastle United, as reported by Record.
For a while at least, it looked as though Ruben Amorim’s Sporting were going to suffer the same fate that befell the likes of Borussia Dortmund, Montpellier and AS Monaco. Surprise title-winners who saw their squads ripped apart by hungry vultures as the status quo reasserted itself.
But, with just one week of the window remaining, the Lisbon club can see a glint of light at the end of a winding tunnel.
Despite months of incessant speculation, the midfield monster that is Joao Palhinha is still plying his trade at the Estadio Jose Alvalade.
As is Tiago Tomas, the teenage sensation who was apparently on his way to Arsenal. Rumours surrounding the future of Pedro ‘Pote’ Goncalves have dried up too.
Everton and Newcastle chase Nunes in vain
And, as it stands, jet-heeled youngster Matheus Nunes looks more likely to sign a new contract than he is to turn his back on the club that secured their first Primeira Liga title last season since the days of a buck-toothed Cristiano Ronaldo.
Newcastle United are long-time admirers of Nunes, having made a £10 million bid for the 22-year-old Brazilian in January.
Nunes appeared to have one foot at Goodison Park a few months ago too, with Everton closing in on a £20 million loan-to-buy deal.
Record went so far as to suggest personal terms were close to being agreed. Nunes was expected to earn £1 million a year on the blue half of Merseyside – a substantial rise on his current wage.
Money isn’t everything, of course.
And, according to new claims coming out of Portugal today, Nunes has come to the conclusion he’d be better off spending one more season in Portugal, honing his talents under Amorim, one of Europe’s sharpest tactical minds.
Nunes could even extend his contract.
At least with Joe Willock through the door and Allan Saint-Maximin putting his injury issues behind him, Newcastle appear to have solved their creativity problems.
Missing out on Nunes isn’t the disaster it could have been at St James’ Park.
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