Wolves are closing in on the signing of Girona defender Santiago Bueno with Fabrizio Romano reporting that the Premier League outfit will pay at least £8.5 million for the Uruguay international.
Following the departures of Conor Coady and Nathan Collins to Leicester City and Brentford respectively, Wolverhampton Wanderers have just three centre-halves at their disposal heading into the final few days of the transfer window.
And should anything happen to Craig Dawson, Max Kilman or Toti Gomes, Wolves would find themselves facing a nightmare scenario. One injury or a suspension away from potential disaster.
It will come as no surprise, then, that another central defender is a priority before Saturday’s deadline. In fact, the only real ‘surprise’ is the identity of the man who appears to be on his way to Molineux.
Wolves have been chasing Borussia Monchengladbach’s Nico Elvedi all summer long. According to Fabrizio Romano, however, it is Santiago Bueno instead who will be posing for photos in Old Gold this week.
Wolves beat three Premier League rivals to Santiago Bueno
“Wolves are closing in on deal to sign Santiago Bueno from Girona as final details are being sorted,” Romano writes on Twitter. “The Uruguayan centre-back is prepared to fly to England for medical tests.
“Final fee could be in excess of 10 million euros (£8.5 million). Personal terms also agreed.”
24-year-old Bueno, capped twice by Uruguay, arrives after three years at Girona. He made 34 La Liga starts in 2022/23 but is yet to kick a ball in anger for the Catalan outfit this term due to a hamstring injury.
His place in the Girona backline could be taken by Barcelona’s former Manchester City man Eric Garcia.
TEAMtalk, meanwhile, believe that Nottingham Forest, Everton and Sheffield United were also keen on Bueno. But confirmation of his move to Wolves now appears imminent.
“I am excited,” Wolves boss Gary O’Neil said on Tuesday (Birmingham Mail). “I’m still convinced that, come September 2nd, this squad will be in a better place than it was last week.
“I am excited for the next few days. I think we are well prepared. There has been some real good work that I have helped with over the last couple of weeks.
“So that we are able to do some bits and pieces and then respond if things move.”
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