---
title: "Wolves: Wanderers the ‘main favourite’ to sign Joao Palhinha"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/wolves-wanderers-the-main-favourite-to-sign-joao-palhinha/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Henry Jackson"
section: "Premier League News"
published: "2022-05-17T16:10:57Z"
modified: "2022-05-17T16:10:57Z"
---

# Wolves: Wanderers the ‘main favourite’ to sign Joao Palhinha

**[Wolves](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/wolves-news/) are the front-runners to sign Sporting CP midfielder Joao Palhinha in the summer transfer window, according to a new report that has emerged this week.**

### The Lowdown: A Champions League beast

Bruno Lage will be looking to sign a number of new faces at the end of the season, with his side’s [Premier League](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/premier-league-news/) campaign fizzling out a little, perhaps due to a lack of squad depth.

One player who has been [continually linked](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/wolves-news/wolves-wanderers-lead-the-race-to-sign-joao-palhinha/) with a move to Molineux is Palhinha, who has matured into one of Sporting’s most reliable and tenacious players in recent years.

The 26-year-old [started all six](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/322774/Show/Jo%C3%A3o-Palhinha) of his side’s Champions League group stage matches this season, averaging an monstrous 3.7 tackles per game in the competition.

To put those incredible numbers into perspective, [no Wolves player](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/161/Show/England-Wolverhampton-Wanderers) with three or more appearances is averaging more than 2.7 tackles per game in the Premier League.

[All the latest from Wolves!](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/all-the-latest-from-wolves-6/)

### The Latest: Wolves in pole position

It looks as though Wolves’ interest in Palhinha hasn’t gone away, with [*A Bola*](https://www.abola.pt/) \[via [*Sport Witness*](https://sportwitness.co.uk/wolves-main-favourite-midfielder-tottenham-also-keen-e20m-needed-deal/)\] claiming that they are the ‘main favourite’ to acquire his signature this summer.

It is stated that ‘everything indicates’ that he will leave Sporting and that a move to the Premier League is on the cards. Jorge Mendes is tipped to work his magic and bring him to Wanderers instead of Tottenham.

\[freshpress-poll id=“388780″\]

### The Verdict: No.1 Neves replacement?

With Ruben Neves looking increasingly [likely to leave](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/follow-up/ruben-neves-destined-barcelona-transfer-latest/) Wolves in the summer, it is imperative that Lage brings in a like-for-like replacement – someone who can enjoy a similar level of influence on proceedings in the middle of the park.

Palhinha certainly looks the most likely option, in that respect, possessing his compatriot’s deep-lying ability in midfield, proving to be strong both on and off the ball.

His aforementioned tackling statistics highlight one part of his game but he has also [scored three goals and enjoyed an 87.8% pass completion rate](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/322774/Show/Jo%C3%A3o-Palhinha) in the Primeira Liga this season, showing that he is an all-round package.

***In other news, journalist Tim Spiers has dropped a key Wolves exit claim. Read more [here](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/premier-league-news/romain-saiss-waving-goodbye-molineux-tim-spiers/).***