Wolverhampton Wanderers are closing in on the signing of another Jorge Mendes client with Ruben Semedo keen to leave Greek giants Olympiakos this month, as reported by Mais Futebol.
A new era, a new coach and a new system – but the same old players at Molineux, much to the chagrin of supporters hoping for an influx of fresh faces this summer.
So far, Wolves have only signed two outfield players during the Bruno Lage era – not including last season’s loanee Rayan Ait Nouri – and 20-year-old Yerson Mosquera missed the 1-0 Premier League defeat at Leicester City through injury.
Once the Colombian adapts to life on British soil, his aggressive, front-foot style could make him a key cog in a remodelled backline however.
Bruno Lage, who replaced Nuno Espirito Santo in June, led Benfica to the 2019 Primeira Liga title with a swashbuckling, high-pressing style of football; one he is hoping to replicate at Molineux.
After three seasons of Nuno’s low-block, counter-attacking pragmatism, however, this new style should take some getting used to. But bringing in players like Ruben Semedo – no relation to Nelson – should go some way to easing the transition from Nuno’s era to life under Lage.
Will Ruben Semedo shine under Bruno Lage at Wolves?
27-year-old Semedo, a three-time Portugal international, is a defender tailormade for Lage’s blueprint; someone who loves to start attacks with piercing forward passes while carrying the ball out from the back like Lucio in his pomp.
Twice a Greek league champion at Olympiakos, his arrival would allow the new Wolves boss to drop the three-man backline he used at Leicester in favour of a flat-back four.
According to Mais Futebol, Wolves are in talks with Semedo, and the tough-tackling defender could be available for a cut-price fee of just £9 million.
The former Sporting Lisbon man has asked to leave Olympiakos, too, following their shock defeat to Bulgarian outfit Ludogorets in the Champions League qualifiers last week.
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