Wolverhampton Wanderers remain the most likely destination for Braga striker Paulinho as Lazio are unwilling to meet his £25 million price-tag, according to reports.
When you consider that Raul Jimenez made a staggering 55 appearances for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side in 2019/20, spending almost 5,000 minutes on the pitch, it goes without saying that some competition in attack would be well received at Molineux.
Nuno Espirito Santo made it clear after the Europa League quarter-final defeat to Sevilla that he wants new signings to boost one of the smallest squads in English football (Sky).
Fortunately, a Chinese-backed Wolves side have pockets deeper than the Marianas Trench.
A Bola reports that prolific Paulinho has admirers at Sporting Lisbon, Lokomotiv Moscow and Lazio, but it is only the Black Country outfit who look capable of paying the £25 million Braga are demanding.
A Lazio side who flirted with the Serie A title before dropping off after the re-start are only willing to pay around £14 million, according to Sky Italia.
The door is very much ajar, then, for a Wolves side who, after missing out on European qualification, will have time to catch their breath next season.
With 25 goals in all competitions, Paulinho enjoyed the most impressive season of his career in 2019/20.
And it is surely no coincidence that one of those 25 strikes came during a 3-3 Europa League draw with Wolves in the autumn.
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