Samuel ‘Samu’ Costa insists he’ll stay at Almeria this season despite holding talks regarding a potential move to Premier League outfit Wolves, speaking to AS.
Wednesday, 9 June was certainly a busy day at Molineux.
Bruno Lage was officially unveiled as Nuno Espirito Santo’s replacement while, on the same day, reports emerged suggesting a tough-tackling defensive midfielder could be the first signing of a bold new era in the Black Country.
A Bola reported Wolverhampton Wanderers had entered talks to sign 20-year-old Samu Costa for a deal in the region of £21.5 million.
In early June, it felt like only a matter of time before Costa was shaking hands with Lage, holding a black-and-gold scarf up to the West Midlands sky.
Why won’t Samu Costa join Wolves?
For whatever reason, however, things have gone cold since then.
Perhaps Wolves felt with Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho likely to stay put for another season there was no longer a need for another midfielder, especially one who could set them back a fee in excess of £20 million.
Then again, perhaps Costa just wants to stay at a club he joined on a permanent basis only ten months ago.
“I am very happy, very focused, my head is only here. I want to help my teammates and moving up (to the top tier) is the only goal I have,” says Costa, whose Almeria side missed out on promotion following a play-off semi-final defeat to Girona.
“A player has to feel the club has confidence in him and, for that, I am very grateful to Almeria. Behind the scenes, there’s a lot of work nobody notices, work that has helped me a lot.
“ Now I want more. I want to stay and I am fine here.
“What I can say is that, this year, I will be better. I will do much more and Samu will be a better player, just as hard-working as ever.”
While one door slams in Lage’s face, a window of opportunity may just have opened for Luke Cundle and Tyler Perry, a pair of technically gifted young midfielders who have caught the eye in pre-season.
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