Richard Hughes made last-ditch attempt to sign ‘superstar’ midfielder for Liverpool | OneFootball

Liverpool were linked with a whole host of players throughout the summer transfer window.

Every area of their squad was being scrutinised with Andoni Iraola trying to weigh up which players he needed for which positions.

Of the lot, Bradley Barcola was obviously the biggest coup but, since he's only just joined, the Reds' fanbase are yet to see how much he's actually going to bring to their starting XI.

Others such as Ronald Araujo and Victor Munoz have also had a solid impact but, it's hard to not realise that more change is still needed.

Perhaps the biggest shock of Liverpool's summer transfer window was the fact that they didn't sign a new central midfielder.

Last term, that was one of their main problem areas with fans demanding that certain players were moved on.

Obviously, a deal for a new midfielder didn't end up getting over the line but, that doesn't mean that the Reds didn't try to bring a new midfielder in.

Richard Hughes made an attempt to sign Mateus Mane from Wolves at the end of the transfer window

From the start of the window, Mateus Mane was on top of Liverpool and Manchester United's shortlists.

Both European heavyweights wanted to bring the youngster into their squad to try and help solve their midfield issues.

And, although the 18-year-old is an attacking midfielder, he still would've been an impressive signing for the Reds and, he'd also be classed as homegrown whenever he became old enough to get registered.

However, as the window went on, talk of a move for the Wolves midfielder died down and, in the end, he ended up staying put.

But, as per a fresh update from TEAMtalk, Liverpool made one last-ditch attempt to try and get a deal over the line.

"Wolves could have sold Mateus Mane before the transfer window closed, with Liverpool and Manchester United both admirers of the 18-year-old, but the club showed no ambition to allow the highly-rated teenager to leave, TEAMtalk understands," they wrote.

"We can confirm long-term admirers Liverpool and Man Utd both held conversations about Mane, with the Merseysiders making contact in the final days of the window as they explored whether a deal could be possible for the teen forward.

"Liverpool looked at Mane as both a permanent signing and a potential buy-to-loan-back option, but Wolves were insistent that the youngster was not available for transfer and refused to entertain the prospect of letting him leave.

"Sources have told TEAMtalk that Mane himself was not pushing for a move away from Molineux, although he would have been open to the possibility had Wolves been willing to sanction a transfer."

Mateus Mane would have been an intriguing signing for Liverpool

One of the main areas of the midfield that Liverpool are stacked in is their number 10.

Florian Wirtz is obviously the first-choice but, others such as Dominik Szoboszlai and even Hugo Ekitike (when fit) can be used there.

In fact, before deadline day, Harvey Elliott was another option that Liverpool had for that role but, in the end, the Englishman ended up joining Valencia.

So, the fact that Liverpool even thought about making a last-ditch attempt to sign Mane is a tad confusing.

However, the fact that he's played as a right-winger in the past is likely one of the many options they explored a deal as a potential option.

The Reds' interest in Ethan Nwaneri is well-documented so, a sort of hybrid number 10/right-winger was certainly on the cards for Iraola this summer.

Statistically, Mane's performances aren't the best but the fact that he's been dubbed a "superstar" proves exactly how good he is.

Indeed, his five goal contributions for Wolves over the last three years would certainly need working on but, for the right price, Liverpool could have ended up with a solid deal.

Of course, the January window isn't all that far away so the Reds' interest could be reignited but, the fact that Liverpool have many other positions among their ranks which need upgrading make it feel like a move for Mane isn't going to be on the table any time soon.