Players Wolves could target who Bruno Lage previously worked with including star with 68 goal involvements from 72 games

Follow us on Google Discover

Having monitored Goncalo Guedes for a “long time”, Wolves have finally reunited the Portugal international with Bruno Lage.

Wolves paid Valencia £27.5m to sign he 25-year-old forward who scored 36 goals in 178 appearances for the Spanish giants.

With star striker Raul Jimenez out injured, Guedes, who can play anywhere across the forward line will be tasked with bringing an injection of goals to Molineux.

Only the three relegated clubs, Burnley, Watford and Norwich, scored fewer than Wolves’ 38 Premier League goals last season.

Guedes, who has been capped 32 times for Portugal and was part of the side that won the 2019 Nations League, worked with Lage during their time together at Benfica.

With Guedes and his fellow countryman reunited in the Black Country, HITC Sport takes a look at five players Wolves could target who Bruno Lage previously worked with.

Players Wolves could target who Bruno Lage previously worked with

Goncalo Ramos – Benfica

According to Fabrizio Romano, Newcastle United are preparing a proposal for the Benfica forward who has been identified as their ‘top target’.

The Mail reports that the 21-year-old, who has three goals and three assists to his name already this season, is valued at £25m.

Lage worked with Ramos at the Lisbon giants and the Portugal Under-21 international has admirers at Molineux.

The Magpies may be in the driving seat to sign Ramos, who scored seven league goals last season, but Lage’s relationship with the striker could swing the pendulum in Wolves’ favour if the club opt to pursue the talented marksman.

Raul de Tomas – Espanyol

The former Real Madrid man only scored three goals in 17 appearances under Lage at Benfica before returning to Spain via Espanyol, but the striker has shown his goalscoring prowess back in his homeland.

After firing Espanyol back up to La Liga with 23 goals, the 27-year-old scored 17 goals upon his return to the Spanish top-flight last season.

De Tomas’ performances have seen him earn four caps under Luis Enrique and he’ll no doubt be targeting a place in the former Barcelona manager’s World Cup squad.

Espanyol chairman Mao Ye has admitted there are ‘possibilities’ that the Spaniard, who has been linked with a move to Aston Villa, West Ham, Newcastle and Everton, could depart the club this summer.

Florentino Luis – Benfica

Tipped to become one of the best midfielders in the world, the former Portugal Under-21 international has spent the last two seasons out on loan (Getafe and Monaco).

The 22-year-old has started all three of Benfica’s matches of the new campaign and he made 42 appearances under Lage.

While Joao Moutinho and Ruben Neves continue to be Lage’s Portuguese midfield maestros, Moutinho, who turns 36 next month, will have to eventually be replaced and Luis’ athleticism and prior experience under Lage could make him an appealing option.

Chris Willock – Queens Park Rangers

Following his move to Benfica from Arsenal, Willock scored three goals and provided four assists during his 13 appearances under Lage for Benfica B.

After making the move back to London with Queens Park Rangers, the 24-year-old scored seven goals and laid on 11 assists in the Championship last season.

He opened his account for the 2022-23 campaign in style against Middlesbrough – picking the ball up in his own half before smashing the ball into the top corner from distance.

Lage already has a young talented English attacking midfielder at his disposal in Morgan Gibbs-White but Willock could shine under the Portuguese’s stewardship in the top-flight if given the chance.

Pizzi – Al-Wahda FC

The 17-time Portugal international only left Benfica to head for the Middle East last month, but the 32-year-old midfielder’s numbers under Lage at the Estadio da Luz were incredible.

During Lage’s 18 months in charge of the Portuguese giants, which saw him win two trophies, before taking the reins at Molineux, Pizzi registered 68 goal involvements from 72 games under the 46-year-old.

The former Atletico Madrid man scored 35 goals and laid on 33 assists. Pizzi’s best football of his career undoubtedly came while playing under his compatriot.

If a move in the Middle East doesn’t go to plan for the talented midfielder – Lage could be tempted to bring his former influential charge to the Black Country.