Wolverhampton Wanderers will be determined to keep Nuno Espirito Santo but the Premier League outfit appear to be preparing for the worst.
Wolverhampton Wanderers will move for Benfica boss Bruno Lage if Nuno Espirito Santo leaves Molinuex this summer, as reported by CM Jornal.
Despite Sunday’s dramatic FA Cup semi-final defeat to Watford, Nuno’s second season at the helm has been a roaring success with Wolves sitting seventh in the Premier League less than a year after cruising to the Championship title.
As a result, the former Porto and Valencia boss has been linked with a move away, with the Sun claiming that Chelsea see him as a potential successor for the much-maligned Maurizio Sarri.
And, while Wolves will be determined to keep their master tactician, CM Jornal claims that they have prepared for the worst with Lage in their sights. It is claimed that they would even be willing to pay £17 million to release Lage from his contract at reigning Primeira Liga champions Benfica.
The 42-year-old has only been Benfica’s manager since January but he has done a remarkable job so far, winning 16 of 21 games including a record-equalling 10-0 thrashing of Nacional. Lage, who was once Carlos Carvalhal’s assistant at Sheffield Wednesday and Swansea, has led the Eagles back to the top of the table and into the quarter-finals of the Europa League.
Interestingly, Lage was linked with Wolves’ rivals Aston Villa in October before they hired Dean Smith, via The Telegraph.
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