Wolves fans are strapping themselves in for a rollercoaster summer transfer window as Vitor Pereira aims to drag his side up the table.
With Matheus Cunha closing in on a move to Manchester United and Rayan Ait-Nouri wanted by Manchester City, Wolves face the prospect of needing to replace their best players once more.
Vitor Pereira has already identified Bilal El Khannouss as a potential replacement for Cunha, who was recently relegated with Leicester City, while Harvey Elliott is also on Wolves’ radar.
Shopping on English shores for proven Premier League players is a strategy that works for most clubs, but the Old Gold have also demonstrated their knack of snapping up talent from abroad.
Wolves’ £15 million capture of Joao Gomes in 2023 is the prime example, as is the success of Andre and Jorgen Strand Larsen from their 2024 summer signings. Now, it appears the Wanderers want to revisit an old strategy that worked wonders for Nuno Espirito Santo.
Vitor Pereira wants to sign Portuguese players this summer
With the help of super agent Jorge Mendes, Wolves assembled a squad under Nuno that was comprised of exceptional Portuguese stars.
The likes of Ruben Neves, Rui Patricio, Joao Moutinho and Diogo Jota all became heroes in gold, while current stars Jose Sa, Nelson Semedo, Toti Gomes, Rodrigo Gomes and Goncalo Guedes are flying their nations’ flag.
When asked about whether the Portuguese market is one Pereira would revisit this summer, he left the door open but confirmed the players he wants are ‘expensive’.
“We are a small country, but we produce a lot of quality,” the Wolves manager said in an interview with A Bola. “Both players and coaches, so it is always a market that is on our radar. We have already identified many, many, but Portuguese players are expensive (laughs).”
For those still reminiscing on the European adventure under Nuno, they will take comfort in those comments from the 56-year-old, who is clearly a fan of some Portuguese talent.
Wolves biggest transfer priorities this summer
Cunha’s pending sale to Man United and Nelson Semedo being likely to leave Wolves gives Pereira two key positions of priority before the window has even opened.
The former Al Shabab boss will know the challenge of replacing his talisman seeing as though he plundered 17 goals in all competitions this term.
Meanwhile, Semedo’s responsibility as captain and his ability on the pitch leave Pereira fearing the worst over his departure.
After signing a number 10 and a new wing-back, depth in midfield is a must, with both Tommy Doyle and Boubacar Traore heading for the exit door.
Strand Larsen could also with some competition up top, which explains Wolves’ links to £25m-rated Troy Parrott.
Last but not least, a new goalkeeper is something that could be on his agenda after Sa and Sam Johnstone have failed to convince.
‘We have’: Vitor Pereira wants to repeat Nuno Espirito Santo transfer trick at Wolves but there is one problem
