Richard Hughes just waiting for perfect time to strike deal for £35m second-tier forward | OneFootball

Liverpool are seeking to add signings in attack this summer.

Victor Munoz has been brought on board for €40m after the Reds’ sporting director Richard Hughes triggered the Spain international winger’s Osasuna buyout clause.

But the outgoing Premier League champions won’t stop there. The Anfield club had Yan Diomande in their sights - bidding up to €100m to land the RB Leipzig prodigy.

Having seen that effort knocked back Liverpool are further disappointed by the revelation that the Ivorian forward would rather join Paris Saint-Germain.

Liverpool linked again with Mateus Mane

The Merseysiders have got no choice but to move on with their list of alternate targets - with Said El Mala, Yankuba Minteh and Matias Fernandez-Pardo all said to feature prominently in their thinking.

Minteh has been quoted at around £70m to £80m - while the costs for another target in Bradley Barcola have swollen beyond £130m.

So don’t rule out Hughes and Liverpool doing a bargain deal in the current market with Wolves teenager Mateus Mane now coming back into the reckoning.

That’s according to a report in United in Focus - which claims Manchester United are about to test the relegated side’s resolve for the Liverpool-linked winger with an opening bid of £20m.

Man Utd to bid: Liverpool waiting

“Manchester United are looking to compete with Liverpool and several other clubs across Europe for the signature of Mateus Mane this summer,” the report reads.

“Wolves have set a £35m price tag on their academy graduate, who took the Premier League by storm last season, despite experiencing relegation.

“United are not alone in wanting Mane, with Liverpool and several big clubs around the continent all keen on the youngster. “United are ready to ‘test the waters’ with a move in the region of £20m for Mane.”

Liverpool are standing by - reluctant to pay the Old Gold’s £35m asking price as things stand - but could end up making an attempt at a lower price as the window draws to a close.

“They aren’t currently expected to make an approach because of the valuation. But that this could change in the coming weeks if Wolves are open to accepting less.”

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Mateus Mané: Situation summary

Mateus Mané is a lively, channel‑running forward who splits the difference between nine and wide forward, constantly looking to spin in behind, attack gaps between centre‑back and full‑back and finish from central areas.

He plays with notable courage for his age, willing to take first‑time shots, attack crosses and run at defenders even in adverse game states, which has made him a rare bright spot in a struggling Wolves side.

Born in Portugal in September 2007 and raised in Moston after moving to Manchester at eight, Mané came through Rochdale’s system before Wolves picked him up in 2024 and fast‑tracked him through their academy.

By 18 he was starting Premier League games, scoring his first senior goal and winning a penalty in a crucial win over West Ham, reinforcing the impression of a teenager comfortable with big‑match pressure.

He is under contract at Wolves until 2029 and currently valued in the high‑teens in millions, which, combined with his homegrown status and breakout‑year impact, gives Wolves strong leverage despite relegation and a need to remodel the squad.

Internally he’s seen as a cornerstone of any rebuild, a player they can build attacking patterns around at Championship level or use as a key asset if a major bid arrives.

Mané is already being linked with Manchester United and Liverpool among others, ticking boxes as a young, aggressive forward with Premier League minutes and physical upside.

Given his contract and Wolves’ position, any move would likely require a fee that recognises both his present output and his potential, with a sale more plausible if a big club offers frontline‑pathway assurances rather than a depth role.