That ‘selling club’ label is one football teams try to avoid at all costs.
Not FC Porto.
Unlike Southampton, Arsenal and co they have embraced their status as a club who unearth rough diamonds and polish them before selling them for a profit that would make Mike Ashley throw up in his fireplace.
Eder Militao, James Rodriguez, Eliaquim Mangala, Hulk, Radamel Falcao and, latterly, £35 million Fabio Silva departed the Dragao for huge transfer fees.
However, if the Primeira Liga champions aren’t careful they could be about to lose one of their most valuable assets for nothing in the near future.
Wolverhampton Wanderers signed both Fabio Silva and Vitinha from Porto during the summer and will almost certainly return to a familiar hunting ground, sniffing the scent of a bargain signing.
The Mirror (28 July, page 66) reported that, along with Silva and Vitinha, Wolves are also big fans of the more experienced Otavio – a 25-year-old Brazilian playmaker who was integral to Porto’s 2020 title triumph.
But, having failed to tie their influential midfielder down to a new contract beyond 2021, Sergio Conceicao’s side are in dangerous territory.
Otavio was valued at £25 million a few weeks ago. In January, he will be free to sign a pre-contract agreement with another club, paving the way for the former Internacional star to leave Porto on a free when his current deal expires in July.
Napoli and Sevilla are interested and, after drawing a blank for the third time this season in Sunday’s 1-0 loss to Leicester City, Wolves should be tempted to go all in once again.
With 15 assists in all competitions last season and 11 yellow cards, Otavio is the very definition of an ‘all action midfielder’.
Wolves aren’t exactly lacking quality or energy in the centre of the park but Ruben Neves, Leander Dendoncker and Joao Moutinho, while fine passers of the ball, aren’t renowned for their lock-picking abilities.
Otavio, then, would give Nuno something different. A subtle, feather-like touch in advanced, central areas.
A Bola reports Otavio earns ‘just’ £14,000 a week at Porto and various clubs across Europe are willing to triple his salary. Are Wolves one of them?
In truth, it would be more of a surprise if they weren’t.
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