‘Received calls’: President admits 48-year-old manager is in Wolves talks

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Premier League strugglers Wolverhampton Wanderers have contacted Nuno Espirito Santo regarding a potential return to Molineux, Al-Ittihad president Anmar Al-Haili tells MBC, in quotes reported by Btolat.

After negotiations with Julen Lopetegui fell apart for a second time – the former Sevilla coach opting to stay in Spain for personal reasons – it seems that Wolves are hoping that a step back in time can succeed in putting an underachieving, suddenly-relegation-threatened squad back on the right track.

Nuno, one of the most popular managers in Wolves’ history, bid an emotional farewell to the Black Country outfit in May 2021, departing after four largely excellent years at the helm. 

Just 17 months later, however, Nuno could return to his old stomping ground.

According to Fabrizio Romano, talks between Wolves and the 48-year-old tactician are underway; though nothing has been agreed thus far and there are still other candidates in the frame.

Al-Ittihad president Anmar Al-Haili, meanwhile, insists that Nuno remains ‘committed’ to a club sitting third in the Saudi Pro League table. That has not stopped speculation suggesting that Nuno would welcome a return to Wolverhampton, however.

Will Nuno Espirito Santo return to Wolves?

“Yes, Nuno Santo has already received calls to coach Wolverhampton,” he says. “But the coach is committed to his contract with us, which runs for two seasons. And he has a project here that he wants to succeed with.”

Nuno, who spent a brief and unsuccessful spell at Tottenham Hotspur last year, is yet to taste defeat since taking charge of Al-Ittihad; four wins and three draws from seven games. Unbeaten run aside, however, he continues to face criticism for an allegedly over-cautious, reactive style of football. Criticisms that are certainly nothing new as far as Nuno Espirito Santo is concerned.

Rob Edwards, former player and U23 coach, is also in the frame for the Wolves job. Per the Express and Star, he had an interview this week. Ex-Olympiakos boss Pedro Martins, however, is not a candidate as things stand.