Wolves are reportedly eyeing a move for Joao Palhinha in the summer transfer window.
The Lowdown: Wolves need Moutinho replacement
Given that Joao Moutinho is 34 years of age now, the Midlands club need to start to look for a suitbale long-term replacement for him in the middle of the park.
That could well be Palhinha, who at 25 is much younger, and would have learned off of Moutinho having played with each other at international level for Portugal.
The Latest: Wolves eye Palhinha
As per A Bola (via Sport Witness), the Molineux faithful are ‘still’ interested in signing Palhinha, given that they were close to making a bid for the defensive midfield player in last summer’s window.
The Wanderers continue to have him ‘very well referenced’, but they have been warned that his asking price has gone up to €30m (£25.8m).
Current manager at Sporting Lisbon Ruben Amorim considers Palhinha to be an ‘indispensable’ player, which is why his price tag is so high.
The Verdict: Wolves must sign Palhinha
Despite the fairly hefty price tag, WWFC should do all that they can to try and sign Palhinha, as his value will likely only continue to rise.
He was such a key player in Sporting’s title win in the 2020/21 season, winning a really remarkable 9.1 duels a game, while he also averaged 3.3 tackles, 1.5 interceptions and 1.2 clearances per match (Sofascore).
Standing at six-feet-two-inches tall as well, Palhinha should have no trouble whatsoever in adapting to both the physical and aerial demands of the Premier League.
Nonetheless, the summer may provide the best opportunity for Wolves to go out and get their man, who looks to be a real enforcer in the middle of the park.
In other news, find out what Wanderers loved about what one player did on international duty here!