DONE DEAL: Wolves’ new manager Vitor Pereira has officially confirmed his first acquisition after defeating Brentford and Tottenham to sign a top center back for £25 million. Sky sport.

Vitor Pereira’s side have been linked with one of the Championship’s top centre backs

Wolverhampton Wanderers have been told that £25 million is the figure that will force Leeds United to part with one of their prized assets.

Dutch defender Pascal Struijk has been at Elland Road for the whole of his senior career, seeing the Whites both promoted and relegated. After making his debut in 2019, the 25-year-old has become a mainstay in the Leeds side under various managers and has played in 21 of his team’s 22 Championship fixtures so far this season.

According to CaughtOffside, Struijk is attracting the attention of Premier League clubs as Struijk continues to perform amid a play-off push with his team sitting second in the second tier. Tottenham Hotspur are said to be leading the way for the defender’s signature, with Wolves and Brighton and Hove Albion following in suit.

Vitor Pereira’s side need to strengthen in defence if they are to fight off relegation in the second half of the season. Despite their new manager keeping a clean sheet in his first game, which was a 3-0 victory against Leicester City, Wolves have conceded 40 goals in the Premier League, the most in the entire division.

After failing to replace key centre back Max Kilman in the summer after he departed for West Ham United, the Black Country side need to reinforce the defence and Struijk, who is a top Championship defender with sufficient Premier League experience, could be an ideal replacement. He has helped Daniel Farke’s Leeds concede the third-fewest goals so far this season whilst also offering a threat up the other end of the pitch with two goals this campaign.

The £25 million tag could hinder their pursuit, with the Wolves hierarchy known to be careful with their finances, however their hand may be forced with the threat of relegation looming.

READ MORE

Matheus Cunha makes Gary O’Neil admission with first verdict on new Wolves boss Vitor Pereira

Wolves fans have found new optimism, after the Vitor Pereira era started with a bang against Leicester City.

Wolves won 3-0 at the King Power Stadium, blowing the Foxes away in the first-half and capitalising on some poor defending.

Goncalo Guedes, Rodrigo Gomes and Matheus Cunha were all on target for the visitors, and Wolves fans could be heard chanting Vitor Pereira’s name during the game.

That will have been a delight for the new Wolves manager, who has really impressed in just a few days at the club.

Fans praised Pereira after seeing a clip of him in his first training session at Wolves, and the performance he oversaw against Leicester was very encouraging.

Cunha, who got Wolves’ second goal, gave his thoughts about his new boss after the game.

Matheus Cunha admits managerial change at Wolves has been ‘difficult’

Cunha was excellent on Sunday, taking his goal tally to nine for the season.

And there was a proud moment for Cunha as he finished the game wearing the captain’s armband.

Cunha stands to play a huge part for Wolves even despite the change of manager, and the Brazilian gave some thoughts about the recent managerial change after yesterday’s game.

With a nod to Gary O’Neil, he said (via Wolves official): “It’s hard to say, because after someone that you like goes, it’s difficult, but then someone new has come in with new ideas.

“But we need to keep going, with this new spirit that he brings and his new ideas. He has started to push us to go up, and we want to show everyone that we can keep going with him.”