Soccer Football - Champions League - Round of 16 First Leg - Sporting CP v Manchester City - Estadio Jose Alvalade, Lisbon, Portugal - February 15, 2022 Manchester City's Raheem Sterling in action with Sporting CP's Joao Palhinha Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine
According to a report from Portuguese newspaper Jornal de Notícias (via Sport Witness), Wolverhampton Wanderers are now in a three-way battle for Sporting CP midfielder Joao Palhinha.
The lowdown: Replacements needed…
Wolves could be in the market for at least one central midfielder as experienced star Joao Moutinho fast approaches the end of his contract at Molineux (Transfermarrkt).
As things stand the 35-year-old will move on this summer, whilst Leander Dendonker has been linked with a move to SS Lazio and talismanic star Ruben Neves continues to be indexed with a big-money departure.
With doubts lingering over the aforementioned trio, it’s no surprise that Wolves are already being touted with possible successors…
The latest: Premier League transfer battle
As per Jornal de Notícias, translated by SW, Wolves are one of the ‘main interested’ clubs in Palhinha alongside Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.
It’s claimed that Sporting will listen to offers of around €30-40million (£25-34million) for the 26-year-old Portugal international.
The report states that Palhinha – who was described as ‘brilliant’ and the ‘most underrated player in Portugal’ by journalist Zach Lowy – is a personal priority for Bruno Lage this summer.
The verdict: Make it happen
As the Wanderers prepare for life after at least one of their current midfielders, ready-made additions will be a necessity if Lage is going to push the side forwards once again next term.
Albeit the 2021/22 campaign has been a success overall, the heavy defeat at the hands of Manchester City and the recent form moreover has acted as a stark reminder as to how far away Wolves are from the upper echelons of the Premier League.
What position will Wolves finish in the Premier League this season?
Predominantly operating as a defensive-minded midfielder, Palhinha has a Sofascore rating of 7.11 this season in the Primeira Liga, winning an impressive 7.1 duels and making 3.0 tackles on average per game.
Those combative attributes would suggest that the 12-cap international ace could be the ideal candidate to replace Moutinho or Dendonker in the Molineux ranks, particularly at the lower end of the mooted valuation.
In other news, Wolves have been backed to sign a Premier League attacker this summer. Find out who it is here.
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