Wolves appointed Nuno Espirito Santo to replace Paul Lambert in the Molineux hot seat in 2017, but where are the Portuguese’s first transfers with the West Midlands natives now?
Nuno was a free agent at the time of Lambert leaving his role in the Black Country, having left Porto. The 48-year-old was also Wolves’ third head coach in a year, after Walter Zenga lasted only 87 days in the position before Lambert succeeded the Italian for seven months.
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Out with Lambert went assistant coaches Stuart Taylor and Rob Edwards plus fitness coach and head of sport science, Tony Daley. And in their places Nuno brought in Rui Pedro Silva as his assistant, plus fitness coach Antonio Dias and Rui Barbosa as his goalkeeping coach.
Nuno’s arrival in the West Midlands marked a changing of the way for Wolves as he would spend the next four years at the helm. The former Porto and Dynamo Moscow goalkeeper departed in 2021 to take charge of Tottenham Hotspur, where he only lasted four months.
His appointment as Lambert’s successor also returned the Championship title at the end of the 2017/18 campaign with 99 points. Wolves have since spent each season in the Premier League, while Nuno led the Black Country side to the Europa League quarter-finals in 2020.
So, five years on from Wolves appointing Nuno as Lambert’s replacement before securing the West Midlands natives’ return to the top-flight, where are his first 13 transfers now?
Just three of Nuno’s first 13 Wolves transfers are still at Molineux now
Just three of Nuno’s first 13 transfers as Wolves’ head coach are still at Molineux now. The Portuguese secured eight permanent deals during the summer of 2017, whilst also sealing loan moves for five talents to further strengthen his new squad that would win promotion.
Diogo Jota, Alfred N’Diaye, Willy Boly, Leo Bonatini and Ruben Vinagre were the five loan transfers Nuno secured in 2017. Wolves would later turn Vinagre, Bonatini, Boly and Jota’s into permanent moves, while N’Diaye returned to Villarreal before joining Malaga on loan.
N’Diaye played in 33 Championship fixtures during his time at Molineux for three goals and two assists. He later left Villarreal permanently in 2019 for Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Shabab.
Meanwhile, Wolves paid Atletico Madrid £12m to retain Jota, who moved on to Liverpool in 2020 for £41m. The Portuguese offered 44 goals from 131 games across all competitions while at Molineux, and has so far hit the back of the net 34 times over 85 games at Anfield.
As for Boly, the Ivory Coast international set Wolves back £10m to make his loan deal with Porto permanent in 2018. The centre-half has since gone on to reach 147 appearances, but only played 11 games – 10 in the Premier League – under Bruno Lage in the 2021/22 term.
Bonatini, on the other hand, has been in Switzerland since 2020 on loan with Grasshoppers after spells with Nottingham Forest in 2019 and Vitoria Guimaraes in ‘19/20. He had joined Wolves on an initial season-long loan from Al Hilal and hit 13 goals in 56 games at the club.
Vinagre similarly spent the 2021/22 season away from Molineux and will now join Sporting Lisbon permanently for €10m (£8.5m). The 23-year-old made 70 appearances with Wolves after joining in an initial loan from Monaco, before spells with Olympiacos and Famalicao.
Nuno signed now Swansea man Bennett as first permanent Wolves transfer
Nuno signed Ryan Bennett as his first permanent transfer as Wolves manager in May 2017 after Norwich City released the centre-half. He remained on the Molineux outfit’s accounts until joining current club Swansea City on a three-year deal in 2020 after 92 appearances.
Miranda marked Nuno’s first paid-for Wolves transfer with Molineux reunion
Roderick Miranda was Nuno’s first paid-for transfer as Wolves’ boss after moving from Rio Ave for £2.5m. The defender had played under the Portuguese at Rio Ave in 2013/14, but played just 19 times at Molineux. He would leave in 2021 and is now at Melbourne Victory.
Wolves sealed free transfer for Ofosu-Ayeh, now Superettan leader at Halmstads
Wolves agreed a free transfer with German side Eintracht Braunschweig to sign Phil Ofosu-Ayeh in June 2017. The Ghana ace would stay at Molineux until 2020, yet he never made a first-team appearance due to injuries. Now, he is leading the Superettan with Halmstads.
Douglas now at Lech Poznan after joining Wolves in Nuno’s first transfer window
Barry Douglas is now back in Poland, five years after joining Wolves in Nuno’s first transfer window in charge. The left-back only stayed at Molineux for a year before joining Leeds for £3m, and remained under contract there until 2021 and securing a return to Lech Poznan.
Neves among Nuno’s first Wolves transfers still at Molineux now
Ruben Neves is among Nuno’s first Wolves transfers still at Molineux now with Boly and by contract, Bonatini. The Black Country side paid Porto a club-record £15m for the midfielder they now value at £70m, per the Daily Mail, amid interest in him from Manchester United.
Ruddy to leave Wolves when contract expires on June 30
Wolves have announced John Ruddy will leave the club when his contract ends on June 30. The 35-year-old moved to Molineux for free after leaving Norwich at the end of his deal in 2017 and has amassed 72 appearances, but the goalkeeper made 45 of those in 2017/18.
Norris suffered relegation without featuring at Burnley in 2021/22
Will Norris left Cambridge United for Wolves in 2017, and stayed there to 2020 and joining Burnley. He also left on loan for Ipswich Town in 2019/20 after just eight appearances, and his Turf Moor spell has so far featured just three outings with each in the 2020/21 season.
Nuno sealed last transfer of first Wolves window with now Zhiyun man Yang
Nuno sealed the last permanent transfer of his first window with Wolves by signing Ming-Yang Yang, now of NT Zhiyun, from FC Winterthur. But the Swiss midfielder never made a senior outing at Molineux before joining Grasshoppers in August 2020 until February 2021.
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