Transfers

‘Special’ £20m star a ‘long-term target’ at Molineux

By Admin / June 6, 2022

Wolverhampton Wanderers have been tracking Sporting CP midfielder Joao Palhinha for a long time, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

The Midlands outfit may be forced to rebuild their engine room this summer and the 26-year-old appears to be at the top of manager Bruno Lage’s wish list.

What is the latest news involving Palhinha?

According to The Sun’s Jordan Davies, Palhinha is ‘close to completing’ a £20 million move from Sporting to Wolves with his arrival set to be confirmed over the coming days.

The latest update over the Portugal international’s future comes after The Athletic revealed back in April that he was being considered as a potential replacement for Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho.

Neves is widely expected to seek pastures new over the coming months following five successful seasons at Wolves, while 35-year-old Moutinho is yet to agree terms on a new contract.

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With his existing deal due to expire at the end of the month, the diminutive maestro could also be set to depart Molineux, leaving a sizeable void in the middle of the pitch.

Palhinha’s Sporting teammate Matheus Luiz Nunes is another player believed to be on Lage’s radar, and Wolves could have a significantly altered spine next season.

What has O’Rourke said about Palhinha?

O’Rourke has revealed that Palhinha has ‘been a long-term target’ for Wolves and that the midfield ‘is an area of the team’ that will have to be strengthened this summer.

He told GiveMeSport: “He’s been a long-term target for Wolves. It is an area of the team that Wolves are going to have to strengthen this summer, I think, with lots of doubts surrounding the long-term future of Ruben Neves.”

Would Palhinha be a good signing?

Sporting boss Ruben Amorim has previously labelled Palhinha a ‘special player’ after he established himself as one of Portuguese football’s most dominant forces.

“I tell Palhinha many times that he is very good without the ball and with the ball,” said Amorim. “More than tactical-technical, I get it into Palhinha’s head that he is a special player.”

And when looking at his underlying numbers, it’s hard to argue to with Amorim’s assessment.

As per FBref, Palhinha has ranked in the 99th percentile for pressures, 92nd for blocks and 86th for tackles amongst his positional peers over the last year.

Therefore, the 6 foot 3 ace could be the ideal successor for his compatriot Neves at Wolves, allowing Lage to build on a solid first season on English shores.

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