Dream Neto replacement: Wolves target “dangerous” £190k-p/w sensation
Wolverhampton Wanderers have had a busy transfer window, with some interesting incomings and significant outgoings from Molineux. This summer, the goal has been to modify the squad so that Gary O’Neil and his side can take on the challenge of improving last season’s 14th-place finish, a campaign in which they got 46 points and came 20 points clear of relegation.
In terms of the Midlands club’s two major sales this summer, the first was a deal that saw them lose club captain Max Kilman to West Ham United for £40m. It was a move that saw him reunite with former Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui. The other significant sale saw star winger Pedro Neto join Chelsea for a sizeable fee of £54m, after five years at the club.
That money has been reinvested into youngsters Rodrigo Gomes from Portuguese side Braga, and Brazilian fullback Pedro Lima. Tommy Doyle also saw his loan from Manchester City turn into a permanent deal, and Jorgen Strand Larsen signed for the club from Spanish outfit Celta Vigo on loan with a chance for the move to become permanent.
However, with just under a week left of the window, the Molineux side might not yet be done with their summer incomings and could look to add further attacking firepower to the squad.
Wolves target Saudi Pro League winger
The player in question here is Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad and Portuguese winger Jota. The 25-year-old has struggled to settle since his move to the Middle East last summer and could depart the club for a fresh challenge.
According to a report from French news outlet L’Equipe, the Midlands club are thought to be one of the clubs interested in signing the former Celtic star this summer. This comes after the rumours surrounding the former Portugal under-21 international’s future in Saudi Arabia have once again intensified.
However, they will not be alone in their quest to sign the Al-Ittihad winger, with Portuguese giants Sporting CP looking to bring him back to his homeland, and French side Stade Rennais also believed to be showing an interest in the winger this summer.
At this stage, a price has not been clarified by the report from L’Equipe. However, the former Celtic man is valued at around £5.5m by Football Transfers, meaning he could offer a cheap solution to Wolves’ lack of depth on the wing since Neto’s departure to West London earlier in the month.
Why Jota would be a good signing
It has certainly been a rocky time of things for Jota since his move to Al-Ittihad. The 25-year-old was briefly not registered by the club, for them to comply with the Saudi Pro League rules of having a maximum of eight foreign players registered; thus the Portuguese winger was sacrificed and found himself an outcast in many ways.
However, he has appeared for the club, playing 25 games in total, with 16 of those coming in the league before and after his registration issues. In those 25 appearances, he has five goals and an assist from the left wing.
The Benfica academy graduate arguably played the best football of his career for Scottish giants Celtic. He played 83 games for the Bhoys and found the back of the net an impressive 28 times, grabbing 26 assists along the way, too.
Should Wolves bring Jota to the club this summer, he could be a perfect replacement for Neto. The Chelsea number seven was superb for the Molineux side despite injuries and showed his class with 14 goals and 24 assists in 134 appearances for the club.
Indeed, the Al-Ittihad man would be a like-for-like replacement for his fellow Portuguese winger. The pair are both rapid, direct wingers with an eye for goal. Crucially, the former Celtic man, who currently earns a whooping £190k per week in Saudi Arabia as per Capology, is a versatile player.
